Patent Description:
Tire uniformity machines may be used to detect the high or low point of fundamental harmonic of radial and lateral force variations within a tire. When measuring the tire force variations, a computer analyzes the high or low point angle of the radial and lateral force variations first harmonic from an event mark (zero angle). The event mark is set on the tire spindle shaft in conjunction with a pulse generator and pulses once per revolution. After measurement is complete, the high or low point of the tire is indexed and stopped beneath a marker head. A heated marking pin is lowered against the upper side wall of the inflated tire by actuation of an air cylinder. The heated pin transfers pigment or metal foil from a tape to place a mark on the sidewalls of the tire at the high or low point.

The above described marking system is effective if a conventional marking tape is used. Such a tape has a backing membrane that faces the heated pin and a marking material that faces the tire. When actuated, the pin presses the marking material adjacent the tire surface, and the applied heat and pressure transfers the marking material to the tire. This is sufficient for when the marking material is continuous on the membrane. However, the marking material sometimes does not meet the tire manufacturing requirements. In particular, the marking material may not clearly mark the tire, or the marking material does not last long enough to convey the desired information.

In place of a continuous marking material on a membrane, decal type markers may be used. However, such decals, which are more substantive and last longer than pigment or foil type marks, also present their own particular problems. The decals may become misaligned with the striking pin as the membrane is sequenced through the marking assembly. As a result, the striking pin may not fully engage the marking decal, and as a result, only a portion of the decal is applied to the tire. Therefore, there is a need for a decal marking system to accurately coordinate the position of the decal with the marking pin so that the decal is uniformly applied to the tire.

<CIT> discloses a tire marking device using a transfer paper marking tape. The device also comprises a sensor for assisting the transfer by detecting the colors and spacing of the transfer paper marking tape.

In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the present invention to provide a decal marker system.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a decal marker used with a tire uniformity marking station according to claim <NUM>.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a decal marker used with a marking station according to claim <NUM>.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:.

A marking station according to the present invention is designated generally by the numeral <NUM> in the accompanying drawings. The marking station <NUM> is typically associated with a tire uniformity machine and is utilized for the purpose of marking an object, such as a tire, after the object has been tested for certain operational parameters. In the example of a tire, the tire uniformity machine determines whether the tire tread exceeds certain dimensional parameters and whether the tire should be marked as being acceptable or not acceptable; or in some instances a certain grade or quality of the tire will be determined by the test and then associated with an identifying mark. The marking station <NUM> is typically downstream of the tire uniformity machine, in that after the tire is tested it is passed along to the marking station for appropriate marking according to the test results. In some instances, the marking station may be integrated within the tire uniformity machine to mark the tire while it is chucked.

The marking station includes a frame <NUM> which comprises a plurality of posts <NUM> and associated crossbeams <NUM> which provide structural rigidity to the frame <NUM>. A conveyor <NUM>, which is typically motor driven, is supported by the frame <NUM>, wherein the motor associated with the conveyor is operated by a control signal A.

The marking station includes a lower marking assembly <NUM> which is maintained underneath the conveyor <NUM> and an upper marking assembly <NUM> which is maintained above the frame <NUM> and the conveyor <NUM>. The lower marking assembly <NUM> is utilized to mark a sidewall of the tested tire closest to the conveyor while the upper marking assembly <NUM> is utilized to mark the other sidewall of the tested tire. Either or both of the marking assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> may be utilized depending upon the end use marking requirements of the manufacturer.

The lower marking assembly <NUM> is operated utilizing a control signal B which may include several signals directed to the various motors and actuators which move the marking assembly in relation to the frame so as to move the components of the assembly into a marking position and back to a retracted position. The lower marking assembly <NUM> may include a marking position structure <NUM> which is movable between the retracted position and a marking position. The structure <NUM> carries a marker <NUM> which, as will be discussed, carries marking material to mark the tire sidewall or other surface to be marked. In the present embodiment, the assembly <NUM> carries two markers, although one or any other number of markers may be employed as needed. Associated with the marker positioning structure <NUM> is a marker support structure <NUM> which may be near the position of the positioning structure <NUM> and which provides a support arm <NUM> which extends into the tire between the tire sidewalls and wherein a support button <NUM> is provided at the end of the support arm <NUM>. The support arm <NUM> and associated button <NUM> is moved into position so as to support the tire sidewall in the marking area during the marking operation.

An upper marking assembly <NUM> is operated utilizing a control signal C which may include several signals directed to the various motors and actuators associated with the assembly. The upper marking assembly <NUM> includes an assembly frame <NUM> which is associated with a motor <NUM>. The frame includes an arm <NUM> which carries a linearly moving table <NUM> that moves the arm with respect to the frame <NUM>. The table carries at least one marker <NUM>, which may be substantially the same as the markers carried by the lower marking assembly <NUM>. In the present embodiment two markers <NUM> are employed, although skilled artisans will appreciate that a single marker or multiple markers may be carried by the frame <NUM>. The assembly <NUM> also includes a marker support structure <NUM> which is attached to the frame <NUM> and which includes a support arm <NUM> from which extends a support button <NUM> which serves the same purpose as the support arm and support button carried by the lower marking assembly <NUM>.

As will become apparent as the description proceeds, the marker <NUM> disclosed herein is used primarily for applying a decal to the tire surface or other surface as appropriate. However, the marker may also be a stamp marker <NUM>' which may be similar to the one shown in <CIT>. The decal marker <NUM> includes many of the same components as the stamp marker <NUM>'; however, certain components are utilized for the specific purpose of properly placing a decal from the decal marking tape in a proper position before the marking operation takes place as will be described.

A control system <NUM> is associated with the marking station <NUM> and, in particular: the conveyor <NUM>, the components of the lower marking assembly <NUM> and the upper marking assembly <NUM>, and all of their associated markers <NUM> and <NUM>'. The control system <NUM> maintains the necessary hardware, software and memory to receive and send control signals A-F to the components of the marking station <NUM> as required so as to implement their operation. It will also be appreciated that the control system <NUM> receives information from the tire uniformity machine or other machine, via a label reader or other input device, regarding the tire to be marked, wherein the tire to be marked typically has an identifying label, such as a bar code, associated therewith which provides the necessary instructions for the size of the tire, where the tire is to be marked and what type of mark is to be applied.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, it can be seen that the marker <NUM> may include a control portion <NUM> that forms one side of the marker, and a tape portion <NUM> that forms the other side of the marker. The portions are easily assembled to one another to allow for the loading and unloading of a decal or marker tape. The control portion <NUM> includes a plate <NUM> which supports other components of the control portion. In particular, the plate <NUM> supports a housing <NUM> which contains a heater holder <NUM>. Maintained within the heater holder <NUM> is a heater <NUM> which may be operated by the control system, via a control signal D. Associated with the heater is a ball holder <NUM> which maintains a swivel ball <NUM>. Mounted to the swivel ball <NUM> is a marker button <NUM>. The swivel ball <NUM> allows for pivotable movement of the marker button such that as the button strikes a surface to be marked, such as a tire sidewall, the swivel ball accommodates any angular difference between the marker and the surface. Also carried by the plate <NUM> is an air cylinder housing <NUM> which receives and transfers an air supply through a pair of ports <NUM>. Operation of the cylinder <NUM> and the air supply coupled thereto may be controlled by the control system <NUM> via a control signal E. A cylinder <NUM> extends from the cylinder housing <NUM> and slidably moves the heater holder <NUM> and the associated marker button <NUM> and other associated components as needed. As a result, when the marker <NUM> is in position, the control system <NUM> sends the signal E to the air cylinder housing and the signal D to the heater <NUM> such that the marker button <NUM> comes in contact with a marker tape or decal tape, as will be discussed, and the heat and pressure are utilized to transfer a mark to the surface.

In the stamp marker <NUM>' embodiment it will be appreciated that a linear gear <NUM> may be associated with the air cylinder housing <NUM>. The linear gear <NUM> may engage a oneway spur gear <NUM> which is rotatably carried by the plate <NUM> and wherein the spur gear <NUM> rotates a secondary gear <NUM> as will be discussed in detail as the description proceeds.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, it can be seen that the tape portion <NUM> is shown. The tape portion <NUM> includes a plate <NUM> from which substantially perpendicularly extends a tape roll capstan <NUM>, a marker capstan <NUM>, and a take-up capstan <NUM>. The capstans <NUM>-<NUM> are rotatable and are used to assist the movement and routing of the tape as will be discussed. Extending into the plate <NUM> are a number of quick-connect bores <NUM> which receive the standoffs <NUM> that extend from the control portion <NUM>. A knob connector <NUM> extends through the quick connect bore <NUM> wherein the connector is received in a standoff bore <NUM>, which is maintained at the end of the standoff, and allows for interconnection of the tape portion and the control portion to one another.

Extending from the plate <NUM> is a spindle <NUM> which may rotatably carry a removable tape roll <NUM> that rotates about the spindle. A take-up roll <NUM>, which is removable from the tape portion <NUM>, may be connected to a motor <NUM> which is operatively connected to the control system <NUM> by a control signal F. A pulley <NUM> interconnects the motor <NUM> to the take-up roll <NUM>. In the stamp marker <NUM>' embodiment, the take-up roll <NUM> may have a roll gear <NUM> which is engaged and rotated by the secondary gear <NUM>.

The plate <NUM> also carries a tape sensor assembly <NUM> wherein at least one sensor slot <NUM> is provided and wherein sensor fasteners <NUM> are utilized to secure a transmitter <NUM> and a receiver <NUM> to the plate <NUM>. Loosening of the fasteners <NUM> allows for slidable position adjustment of the transmitter <NUM> and receiver <NUM> in the slot <NUM> as needed to accommodate characteristics of the tapes. Operation of the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> may be controlled by the control system <NUM> via a control signal G.

Referring now to <FIG>, a decal tape is designated generally by the numeral <NUM>. The decal tape <NUM> includes a clear or relatively transparent membrane <NUM> which carries relatively non-transparent decals <NUM> that are separated by a predetermined distance <NUM>. Skilled artisans will appreciate that the decal <NUM> may be shaped and sized substantially the same as the marker button <NUM>. As discussed in the background art, problems occurred if the marker button and decal were not properly aligned when the button was pressed against the surface to be marked. If the button and decal are not properly aligned then the decal does not properly adhere to the surface to be marked or, in some instances, only a portion of the decal is adhered, thus leaving an incomplete marking designation which may not completely adhere to the tire surface.

Referring now to <FIG>, which is not part of the present invention and for illustration purposes only, a marker tape <NUM> is shown which has a membrane <NUM> with a marking film <NUM>. As discussed in <CIT>, this is a standard marking tape which transfers the film upon application of heat and pressure. As such, the marker tape <NUM> only needs to be moved a sufficient amount to allow for the film <NUM> to be complete at the next marking operation. More importantly, there is no requirement for the film to be sequenced a predetermined amount, as is the case with the decal tape <NUM>.

In operation, the decal tape <NUM>, which is provided on a tape roll <NUM>, is placed on the spindle <NUM>. The decal tape <NUM> is routed around the capstans as best seen in <FIG>, and in particular so that the decal tape <NUM> passes between the transmitter <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>. As such, the sensor assembly <NUM> may detect a leading or trailing edge of a decal <NUM> and knowing the predetermined distance <NUM>, the control system <NUM> rotates the take-up roll <NUM> the proper amount so that the decal <NUM> is properly aligned with the marker button <NUM>. Once aligned, the control system <NUM> instructs the cylinder <NUM> to actuate so that the marker button <NUM> and associated heat from the heater <NUM> and an appropriate dwell time transfer the decal <NUM> from the membrane <NUM> to the surface to be marked. Once this marking is complete, then the take-up roll is rotated the predetermined amount based upon detection of a leading or trailing edge of the next decal <NUM>.

The advantages of the present invention are readily apparent. The sensor assembly can properly determine the positioning of the decal in relation to the marker button and move it the predetermined amount. This avoids the problem identified in the background art of relying solely on the rotation of the take-up roll to properly position the decal when the rotation of the roll does not accurately reflect the position of the decal mark in view of the expanding radius of the used membrane <NUM> after a period of time. The present invention is also advantageous in that minimal parts or components of the control portion and tape portion need to be swapped out between the two markers <NUM> and <NUM>' which provides flexibility in the type of mark to be applied to a surface. As discussed in the background art, the marker type tape <NUM> is much less expensive to apply and use than the decal tape <NUM>; however, the decal tape provides for a more substantial mark that meets certain end user's needs.

Claim 1:
A decal marker used with a tire uniformity marking station (<NUM>) which carries a decal tape (<NUM>), wherein the decal marker transfers a decal (<NUM>) from the decal tape (<NUM>) to a surface of the tire, comprising:
a marking assembly frame movable between a retracted position and a marking position;
a marker (<NUM>) carried by said marking assembly frame, wherein said marker carries the decal tape (<NUM>), the decal tape (<NUM>) having a membrane (<NUM>) which carries decals (<NUM>); and characterised by
a tape sensor assembly (<NUM>) carried by said marker (<NUM>) to detect an edge of one of the decals (<NUM>) so that said marker (<NUM>) properly positions the one decal (<NUM>) for transfer to the surface,
wherein the membrane (<NUM>) includes a clear or relatively transparent membrane, and where the decals (<NUM>) are relatively non-transparent decals that are separated by a predetermined distance.