US 2008/0314503 A1 · Machine and Method for Applying a Tread to a Tyre Carcass

Abstract

A machine (1) and method for applying a tread (2) to a carcass (3) of a tire (4); the machine (1) has a rotary drum (5) supporting the carcass (3), a feed conveyor (6) for feeding the tread (2) to the rotary drum (5), a pressure roller (7) contacting the tread (2), an actuating device (8) for pushing the pressure roller (7) against the tread (2) with a force (F) of adjustable intensity, and a control unit (9) for regulating the intensity of the force (F) as a function of an error variable (E) calculated as the difference between the length (RCC) of the remaining portion of the circumference of the carcass (3), and the length (RTL) of the remaining portion of the tread (2); and the control unit (9) regulates the intensity of the force (F) by means of a proportional control block (12) having a gain (Kp) varying as a function of the value of the error variable (E) and as a function of the rate of change of the error variable (E).

Claims16

Dependent claims

A machine (1) for applying a tread (2) to a carcass (3) of a tyre (4);

the machine (1) comprising:
a rotary drum (5) supporting the carcass (3);
a feed conveyor (6) for feeding the tread (2) to the rotary drum (5);
a pressure roller (7) contacting the tread (2) between the rotary drum (5) and the feed conveyor (6);
an actuating device (8) for pushing the pressure roller (7) against the tread (2) with a force (F) of adjustable intensity;
and
a control unit (9) for regulating the intensity of the force (F) produced by the actuating device (8) as a function of an error variable (E) calculated as the difference between the length (RCC) of the remaining portion of the circumference of the carcass (3), and the length (RTL) of the remaining portion of the tread (2);
and the machine (1) being characterized in that the control unit (9) comprises a proportional control block (12) having a variable gain (Kp) and which regulates the intensity of the force (F) produced by the actuating device (8) as a function of the error variable (E);
and a computing block (13) which varies the gain (Kp) of the proportional control block (12) as a function of the value of the error variable (E).

6 more elements

A method of applying a tread (2) to a carcass (3) of a tyre (4);

the method comprising:
mounting the carcass (3) onto a rotary drum (5);
applying a first end of the tread (2) to the carcass (3);
feeding the tread (2) to the carcass (3), while at the same time rotating the rotary drum (5);
applying a pressure force (F) on the tread (2) by means of a pressure roller (7) contacting the tread (2) between the rotary drum (5) and a feed conveyor (6) for feeding the tread (2);
calculating an error variable (E) as the difference between the length (RCC) of the remaining portion of the circumference of the carcass (3), and the length (RTL) of the remaining portion of the tread (2);
and
regulating the intensity of the force (F) applied by the pressure roller (7) as a function of the error variable (E);
the method being characterized by regulating the intensity of the force (F) applied by the pressure roller (7) by means of a proportional control block (12) having a variable gain (Kp);
and by varying the gain (Kp) of the proportional control block (12) as a function of the value of the error variable (E).

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machine and Method for Applying a Tread to a Tyre Carcass

Life of this patent

Machine and Method for Applying a Tread to a Tyre Carcass

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16