Method and device for cleaning a vulcanization mold

A method for cleaning a vulcanization mold for tires in a curing press, the method comprising using a device comprising a collaborative mobile robot, incorporating a computer program, the robot comprising an autonomous mobile platform mounted on drive wheels and comprising batteries supplying electricity, a dry ice dispenser, sensors for identifying a location of a mold to be cleaned and motors ensuring the displacement thereof between a storage location of the device and the mould to be cleaned and the displacement of an articulated mobile arm of the robot, the arm bearing a nozzle for spraying dry ice from the dispenser, wherein the device comprises means for communication with a control unit for performing the following operations:

• after having received a mission instruction to clean a vulcanization mold and after having checked a level of electrical charge of the batteries and a level of dry ice in a tank of the dispenser, leaving the storage location;
• automatically navigating to the location of the mold to be cleaned;
• automatically scanning an environment in which the curing press comprising the mold to be cleaned and possible obstacles are located;
• automatically identifying the curing press comprising the mold to be cleaned and standing in proximity thereto;
• automatically cleaning the vulcanization mold by directing the arm bearing the spray nozzle, according to a set of instructions, to an interior of the mold so as to clean it with dry ice;
• and
• communicating with the control unit to inform of the progress of the cleaning operation.

A cleaning device configured to clean a tire vulcanization mold in a curing press, the cleaning device comprising:

• a collaborative mobile robot incorporating a computer program, the robot comprising an autonomous mobile platform mounted on drive wheels and comprising batteries supplying electricity;
• a dry ice dispenser linked to a spray nozzle borne by an articulated mobile arm of the robot;
• motors ensuring displacement between a storage location of the device and a vulcanization mold to be cleaned and displacement of the articulated arm;
• means for communication with a control unit which transmits to the cleaning device a vulcanization mold cleaning mission instruction;
• sensors for identifying a location of the mold to be cleaned and a control system using a navigation system, the control system being linked to the sensors to adjust a position of the device and detect the location of the mold to be cleaned and possibly objects in a path of the cleaning device when it moves between the storage location of the device and the location of the mold to be cleaned;
• a digital data storage memory;
• and
• a control module, components of which are actuated according to the vulcanization mold cleaning mission instruction received from the control unit.