Abstract:
Apparatus and method for reorienting a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a green tire. The core includes a central axis defined through first and second oppositely facing tapered recesses respectively including first and second locking mechanisms. The apparatus includes a core support structure including a base and a reorientation member connected for movement relative to said base and a core coupling member. The core coupling member connects for movement with the reorientation member and includes a core locking mechanism that couples with the core coupling member and locks the core coupling member to the core. A drive system couples with the reorientation member and operatively moves the reorientation member so as to change the orientation of the central axis from a first orientation to a second, different orientation transverse to the first orientation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The subject invention relates generally to automated tire manufacturing lines and more specifically to movement of a tire build core assembly within an integrated tire manufacturing system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Automation of a tire manufacturing line may include the use of a tire building core including latching and handling mechanisms such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991 entitled “TIRE BUILDING CORE LATCHING AND TRANSPORT MECHANISM”, filed Dec. 2, 2005 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,397 entitled “HEATED TIRE BUILDING CORE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD”, filed Dec. 2, 2005. A green tire is constructed on a toroidal surface of the tire building core and the core and tire assembly is transported to a tire cure station as a unit. It is desirable to transport the core and tire assembly from a tire build station to a tire cure station in an efficient and cost-effective manner that minimizes manufacturing costs and cycle times. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    An aspect of the invention is an apparatus for reorienting a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a green tire. The core includes a central axis defined through first and second oppositely facing tapered recesses respectively including first and second locking mechanisms. The apparatus includes a core support structure including a base and a reorientation member connected for movement relative to said base and a core coupling member. The core coupling member connects for movement with the reorientation member and is constructed having a tapered outer structure generally complementary to the respective first and second oppositely facing tapered recesses of the core for alternatively mating therewith. A core locking mechanism couples with the core coupling member and is configured to lock alternatively with the first and second locking mechanisms of the core when the tapered outer structure is received in the first or second tapered recesses of the core. A drive system couples with the reorientation member and operatively moves the reorientation member so as to change the orientation of the central axis from a first orientation to a second, different orientation transverse to the first orientation. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method for reorienting a toroidally shaped core configured to carry a green tire is provided. The method includes inserting a tapered outer structure of a core coupling member to one of a first or a second oppositely facing tapered recesses of the core with the central axis of the core in a first orientation; locking the core coupling member with the corresponding one of the first or second locking mechanisms of the core; and reorienting the core coupling member so as to change the orientation of the central axis from the first orientation to a second, different orientation transverse to the first orientation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0005]    The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top front perspective view of a tire curing line assembly. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top rear perspective view of the tire curing line assembly. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  a top perspective view of the core upender assembly shown in the down or axis-horizontal position coupled to a tire building core assembly. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the core upender assembly shown in the up or axis-vertical position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the core upender assembly in the down position and shown without the tire building core assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged perspective view of the coupling nose portion of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the core upender assembly in the down position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional view of the upender assembly taken along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the upender assembly. 
       
    
    
     DEFINITIONS  
       [0015]    “Aspect Ratio” means the ratio of a tire&#39;s section height to its section width. 
         [0016]    “Axial” and “axially” mean the lines or directions that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire. 
         [0017]    “Bead” or “Bead Core” means generally that part of the tire comprising an annular tensile member, the radially inner beads are associated with holding the tire to the rim being wrapped by ply cords and shaped, with or without other reinforcement elements such as flippers, chippers, apexes or fillers, toe guards and chaffers. 
         [0018]    “Belt Structure” or “Reinforcing Belts” means at least two annular layers or plies of parallel cords, woven or unwoven, underlying the tread, unanchored to the bead, and having both left and right cord angles in the range from 17° to 27° with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
         [0019]    “Circumferential” means lines or directions extending along the perimeter of the surface of the annular tread perpendicular to the axial direction. 
         [0020]    “Carcass” means the tire structure apart from the belt structure, tread, undertread, over the plies, but including beads, if used, on any alternative rim attachment. 
         [0021]    “Casing” means the carcass, belt structure, beads, sidewalls and all other components of the tire excepting the tread and undertread. 
         [0022]    “Chaffers” refers to narrow strips of material placed around the outside of the bead to protect cord plies from the rim, distribute flexing above the rim. 
         [0023]    “Cord” means one of the reinforcement strands of which the plies in the tire are comprised. 
         [0024]    “Equatorial Plane (EP)” means the plane perpendicular to the tire&#39;s axis of rotation and passing through the center of its tread. 
         [0025]    “Footprint” means the contact patch or area of contact of the tire tread with a flat surface at zero speed and under normal load and pressure. 
         [0026]    “Innerliner” means the layer or layers of elastomer or other material that form the inside surface of a tubeless tire and that contain the inflating fluid within the tire. 
         [0027]    “Normal Inflation Pressure” means the specific design inflation pressure and load assigned by the appropriate standards organization for the service condition for the tire. 
         [0028]    “Normal Load” means the specific design inflation pressure and load assigned by the appropriate standards organization for the service condition for the tire. 
         [0029]    “Placement” means positioning a cord on a surface by means of applying pressure to adhere the cord at the location of placement along the desired ply path. 
         [0030]    “Ply” means a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords. 
         [0031]    “Radial” and “radially” mean directed toward or away from the axis of rotation of the tire. 
         [0032]    “Radial Ply Tire” means a belted or circumferentially restricted pneumatic tire in which at least one ply has cords which extend from bead to bead and are laid at cord angles between 65° and 90° with respect to the equatorial plane of the tire. 
         [0033]    “Section Height” means the radial distance from the nominal rim diameter to the outer diameter of the tire at its equatorial plane 
         [0034]    “Section Width” means the maximum linear distance parallel to the axis of the tire and between the exterior of its sidewalls when and after it has been inflated at normal pressure for  24  hours, but unloaded, excluding elevations of the sidewalls due to labeling, decoration or protective bands. 
         [0035]    “Shoulder” means the upper portion of sidewall just below the tread edge. 
         [0036]    “Sidewall” means that portion of a tire between the tread and the bead. 
         [0037]    “Tread Width” means the arc length of the tread surface in the axial direction, that is, in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the tire. 
         [0038]    “Winding” means a wrapping of a cord under tension onto a convex surface along a linear path. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a curing line  10  is shown as part of an integrated tire manufacturing line. The curing line  10  includes a plurality of stations arranged in a linear array, however, other arrangements of the work stations may be utilized if desired to accommodate facility and production demands. The tire manufacturing line builds a tire from components applied to a segmented core dimensioned and configured close to the finished tire. 
         [0040]    A tire building core assembly of the type and configuration disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991 entitled “TIRE BUILDING CORE LATCHING AND TRANSPORT MECHANISM”, filed Dec. 2, 2005 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,397 entitled “HEATED TIRE BUILDING CORE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD”, filed Dec. 2, 2005, likewise incorporated herein by reference. The construction of the core provides a positive mechanism for engaging and transporting the tire building core between a number of stations within an automated tire manufacturing line. Attachment points are located in each end of a spindle assembly of the core. The mechanism allows for automated attachment/detachment of a transport mechanism to the tire building core and facilitates a movement of the tire building core and green tire constructed thereon. 
         [0041]    The tire building core is formed by multiple core segments each having an outer surface portion which together define a toroidal outer surface. The core includes first and second spindle assemblies placed on opposite sides of the multiple core segments along a central core axis. For tire build operation, the core central axis is oriented horizontally and the toroidal outer surface defined by the core segments is rotated about the horizontal core central axis. As the toroidal surface rotates, a green tire is constructed layer by layer to the surface until a green tire is completely constructed on the core. The core and green tire assembly is thereafter transported still in the horizontal central axis orientation by suitable means to a curing line  10  that includes multiple curing line stations oriented along a linear path identified as “L ” in  FIG. 1 . More specifically, the core and green tire assembly is presented to an upender apparatus situated in the curing line  10  as will be explained. 
         [0042]    The curing line  10  is intended to be integrated into the tire manufacturing line described above and includes an upper core manipulator  12 , upender apparatus  14 , and a lower core manipulator  16  that operatively engage a tire building core and green tire assembly  15 . The upper core assembly  12  generally moves the core assembly  15  in a core axis-vertical orientation along the curing line  10  between a mold assembly station  18 , a mold storage stand  20 , and a cure station  22  having an induction heat dome assembly  24  positioned adjacent thereto. A mold manipulator transport assembly  26  bridges over the curing line and moves under electrical control from control panel  28  along a transport rail assembly  30 . Induction heating control panels  32  are positioned adjacent the induction dome assembly  24  and electrically control the induction heating assembly  24  throughout each heating and cure cycle. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , upender apparatus  50  represents a core support structure for reorienting a toroidally shaped core assembly  15 . The core assembly  15  has a central axis identified as “A” in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  50  includes a base  52 , and a lower support frame  54 . A block member  58  is coupled to a transverse pivot shaft  60  and to a drive system represented by pneumatic cylinder  56 . Actuation of the cylinder  56  moves block  58  which in turn rotates the shaft  60 . An upper support frame  62  is provided and is likewise coupled to the pivot shaft  60  such that a rotation of the shaft  50  causes the frame  62  to pivot in the direction of the arcuate arrow shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0044]    Frame  62  supports reorientation housing  63 . Housing  63  rotates with the frame  62  driven by cylinder  56 . Extending forward from the housing  63  is a core coupling member  64 . The member  64  is connected for pivotal movement with the housing  63  and frame  62  relative to the base  52 . The core coupling member  64  is configured as a frustro-conical body having a tapered outer structure  70 . The housing  63  pivots upward until engaged by a vertical stop block  65 .  65  is a counterbalance weight. The upward rotation of the frame  62  is limited by the stop block visible on the inside leg of  54 . It contacts the notch in  62 . 
         [0045]    A pair of brackets (pillow block ball bearings)  66 ,  68  secure the pivot shaft into position on top of the support frame  54 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4-7 , an annular flange  72  abuts the forward end of housing  62  and attaches to the housing  62  by means of bolts  73 . An elongate actuation rod  74  is positioned within the housing  62 . A pair of pneumatic actuation cylinders  76 ,  78  is mounted to drive the rod  74  reciprocally in an axial direction. The coupling member  64  has a pair of openings  80 ,  82  extending therethrough. Mounted within each opening is a pivotally mounted latch member  84 ,  86 , respectively. The members  84 ,  86  are pivotally mounted to a collar member  92  by respective pivot pins  88 ,  90 . Collar member  92  seats within an annular forward recess of the pivot pin  74 . An annular flange  96  is provided as seen in  FIG. 7  affixed to the rod  74  by pins  98 . The piston of each pneumatic cylinder  76 ,  78  attaches to each flange  96  and axial movement of the piston moves the rod  74  axially forward and backward. Forward movement of the rod  74  operates to rotate the latches  84 ,  86  so that remote latching flanges  94  project out of their respective openings  80 ,  82 . An axial retraction of the rod  74  causes a reverse rotation of the latches  84 ,  86 , moving the flanges  94  thereof back into their respective openings  80 ,  82 . 
         [0046]    The core coupling member  64  is generally of frustro-conical shape having a tapered outer surface  70 . The member  64  is coupled to the housing  62  for reciprocal reorientation movement with the housing  62 , driven by cylinder  56  through shaft  60 . A core and green tire assembly  15 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , includes a spindle assembly  100 ,  102  extending axially from opposite sides of a core toroidal surface  103 . Extending axially into an end of each spindle assembly  100 ,  102  is an axial recess  104  having a tapered inner structure complementary to the tapered outer surfaces of the nose  70  of the coupling member  64 . Surrounding the open end of the recesses  104  are electrical connector sockets  106 . Within the sidewall defining each recess  104  are a pair of through-openings  108 . 
         [0047]    The core assembly  15  is brought into a coupled engagement with the assembly  50  as the nose  70  of the coupling member  64  inserts into the tapered recess  104  of an alternative one of the spindle assemblies  100 ,  102 . The nose  70  has a notch  110  along a side. Projecting inward from the notch  110  are four pins  112 . The notch in  70  has wear plates on either side located where the  110  is pointing. Items  112  are screws holding the wear plates in place. The notch and wear plates form a pocket that engages a corresponding key in the core when it is engaged. This orients the core rotation angle. The same arrangement is used in both ends of the core and all the attachment points to maintain core rotation angle. Upon coupled engagement between the nose  70  and spindle recess  104  of an alternative one of the spindle assemblies,  100 ,  102 , the latch members  84 ,  86  are pivoted outward by a forward axial movement of rod  74  and the latching flanges  94  of the latch members  84 ,  86  each enter into a respective opening  108  in the spindle assembly recess  104 . A core locking engagement between the nose  70  and the spindle assembly  100  results. From  FIG. 8 , it will be seen that the actuation rod  70  moves within the nose  70  of the coupling member  54 . A guide member  116  attaches to a forward end of the nose  70  by means of two pins (screws)  118 . A guide flange (needle bearing cam follower)  120  projects from the guide member  116  into a slot  114  formed within the rod  74  to align the rod  74  within the nose  70 . 
         [0048]    It will be appreciated that the subject apparatus  50  functions to reorient the toroidally shaped core assembly  15  carrying a green tire from a first orientation into a changed reorientation. The core assembly  15  is moved from a tire construction station in an initial orientation as shown in  FIG. 3  wherein an axis of the assembly  15  is generally horizontal, represented by axis “A”. Thereafter, the core coupling member  64  is brought into an engagement with the spindle assembly  100  of the assembly  15  as the tapered outer surfaces of the nose  70  insert into the complementarily tapered recess  104  of one of the spindle assemblies  100 ,  102 . Each spindle assembly  100 ,  102  is provided with a mating recess  104  so either may be coupled to the coupling member  64  of apparatus  50 . The core locking mechanism represented by latches  84 ,  86  are coupled to the core coupling member  64  and operatively lock alternatively with either spindle assembly  100 ,  102 . Either end of the core could be latched to the upender, but the power connector end is typically used as the latch end. That way the core is oriented properly for plugging in power as it goes through a cure line (not shown). Pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/292,991, incorporated herein by reference, shows and describes the core assembly and locking mechanism. 
         [0049]    As seen from  FIG. 4 , the drive cylinder  56  is then actuated to reorient the upper frame  62  and the coupling member  64  connected thereto into a reorientation in which the axis “B” of the core assembly  15  is changed. In the orientation shown, axis “B” is generally vertical. It will be noted that the coupling apparatus  64  engages spindle assembly  100 , leaving like-configured spindle assembly  102  and its recess  104  accessible for core pick up by a transport device having a coupling structure duplicating the coupling apparatus  64 . The core assembly is thus reoriented from the orientation ( FIG. 3 ) in which it is transported from a tire build station into a reorientation ( FIG. 4 ) by the apparatus  50 . Engagement between a transport coupling apparatus (not shown) similar to coupling apparatus  64  to spindle assembly  102  may be effected while spindle assembly  100  remains latched to the coupling apparatus  64 . Loss of control over the core and spindle assembly  15  is thus avoided during transfer. After a secure attachment between spindle assembly  102  and the transport apparatus is effected, the latched coupling between the coupling apparatus  64  with the locking openings  108  within spindle assembly  100  may be disengaged by reverse axial movement of the rod  74 . Rearward movement of the rod  70  pivots latches  84 ,  86  out of the openings  108  in assembly  100 , thereby allowing an axial withdraw of the core and green tire assembly  15  from the apparatus  50 . 
         [0050]    From the forgoing, it will be noted that the apparatus reorients  50  the central axis of the core and green tire assembly  15  from a first to a second, different orientation. The second orientation of the central axis is generally transverse to the first orientation. As shown, but not limited thereto, the second orientation of the central core assembly axis is vertical and the first orientation is horizontal. The apparatus  50  may reorient the core assembly  15  in an opposite direction if desired, that is, from a vertical central axis orientation to a horizontal axis orientation. Moreover, the apparatus  50  maintains a locked coupling with the assembly  15  throughout the reorientation. In addition, the apparatus  50  can couple alternatively to either end of the core assembly  15 , leaving the opposite end exposed to facilitate a subsequent coupling to secondary like-configured coupling apparatus. Lastly, it will be recognized that the apparatus  50  can maintain a locked coupling with a first end of the core and green tire assembly  15  until the opposite end of assembly  15  is fully secured to any like-configured secondary coupling apparatus. After the opposite end of assembly  15  is secured, the locked coupling with the first end of the core and green tire assembly to apparatus  50  may be released. 
         [0051]    Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.