Green tire-to-mold contact time detection, analysis, and control
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring the rate of growth of a tire prior to curing, comprising:
- first and second mold halves for receiving the tire therebetween, said mold halves having mold sidewall surfaces, and mold rib and mold tread surfaces for imparting a tread design to the tire;
first means for closing said mold halves while expanding the tire under pressure;
sensing means in operative communication with certain of said mold surfaces for sensing the approach or contact of the tire at certain points about said mold surfaces; and
control means interconnected between said sensing means and said first means for regulating the rate of closure of said mold halves as a function of the times of contact of the tire at said certain points.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The mold halves of a tire press are provided with sensors which determine the contact times of a green tire at certain points on the mold surfaces. The timing so obtained is processed by a microprocessor to determine the run-out profile of the tire. The data is further used for determining the average gap between the green tire and the mold surfaces both at the time of mold closure and at the time of first contact between the green tire and the mold surfaces. This data is then used to regulate the closure rate of the mold halves and/or the inflation rate of the green tire. The sensors contemplated include pressure switches, vacuum switches, microswitches, linear variable differential transformers, and thermocouples.
19 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring the rate of growth of a tire prior to curing, comprising:
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first and second mold halves for receiving the tire therebetween, said mold halves having mold sidewall surfaces, and mold rib and mold tread surfaces for imparting a tread design to the tire; first means for closing said mold halves while expanding the tire under pressure; sensing means in operative communication with certain of said mold surfaces for sensing the approach or contact of the tire at certain points about said mold surfaces; and control means interconnected between said sensing means and said first means for regulating the rate of closure of said mold halves as a function of the times of contact of the tire at said certain points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for effecting and monitoring the curing of a tire, comprising:
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first and second mold halves having mold sidewall, mold rib, and mold tread surfaces thereon for receiving the tire; means for closing said mold halves while inflating the tire; sensing means maintained about said sidewall, rib, and tread surfaces for sensing contact of the tire at selected points on said sidewall, rib, and tread surfaces and presenting output signals corresponding to said contacts; means receiving said output signals and determining therefrom the growth of the tire within said mold halves; and means receiving said output signals and determining therefrom the lateral and radial runout profile of the green tire. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification