Method and apparatus for vulcanisation of tyres for vehicle wheels

Abstract

A vulcanisation apparatus and method for vehicle wheel tyres, includes at least one prevulcanisation work station to conduct a prevulcanisation of a radially internal portion of the tyre and at least two vulcanisation work stations wherein the remaining part of the vulcanisation of the whole tyre is carried out.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres, comprising at least one vulcanisation module defining a plurality of work stations to which a plurality of vulcanisation molds, each capable, during operation, of containing a green tyre being arranged on a respective toroidal support, said vulcanisation module comprising the following work stations:
 at least one prevulcanisation station provided with a supply device of at least one pressurised primary working fluid and a supply device of at least one pressurised secondary working fluid inside a vulcanisation mold located in said station, said pressurised secondary working fluid being adapted to press a radially internal surface of said green tyre toward an external surface of the toroidal support said pressurised primary working fluid being adapted to press a radially external surface of the green tyre toward the internal walls of the vulcanisation mold;   at least two vulcanisation stations provided with a respective supply device of said at least one pressurised primary working fluid inside a vulcanisation mold located in said stations, said pressurised primary working fluid being adapted to press said external surface of the green tyre toward the internal walls of the vulcanisation mold in order to continue the vulcanisation of the partially vulcanised tyre;   at least one transfer device adapted to sequentially transfer each vulcanisation mold of said plurality of molds from one work station to the subsequent work station;   at least one moving device adapted to pick up a vulcanised tyre arranged on a respective toroidal support from said at least one vulcanisation module and to place a green tyre arranged on a respective toroidal support in said at least one vulcanisation module; and   at least one mold opening and closing device for unloading a vulcanised tyre and subsequently loading a green tyre inside a vulcanisation mold.   
     
     
         36 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one vulcanisation module further comprises a loading and unloading station which cooperates with said moving device, and is provided with said mold opening and closing device. 
     
     
         37 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one mold opening and closing device is operably associated with said at least one prevulcanisation station and cooperates with said moving device for the unloading of a vulcanised tyre and the subsequential loading of a green tyre inside a vulcanisation mold. 
     
     
         38 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said mold opening and closing device is operably associated with said at least one vulcanisation station and cooperates with said moving device for the unloading of a vulcanised tyre and the subsequent loading of a green tyre inside a vulcanisation mold. 
     
     
         39 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein the number of said vulcanisation stations is 3 to 6. 
     
     
         40 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said supply device of said at least one pressurised primary working fluid and said supply device of said at least one pressurised secondary working fluid of the prevulcanisation station and said supply device of at least one pressurised primary working fluid of said vulcanisation stations comprise at least one quick snap-on clutch for connection to the vulcanisation mold. 
     
     
         41 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said vulcanisation molds are removably connected to said at least one transfer device. 
     
     
         42 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one transfer device of the mold from a work station to the subsequent station comprises a turntable adapted to support the vulcanisation molds, said turntable operable in rotation to sequentially bring each vulcanisation mold to each of the said work stations. 
     
     
         43 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one transfer device of the mold from one work station to the subsequent station comprises at least a conveyor belt adapted to support the vulcanisation molds and to sequentially bring each vulcanisation mold to each of said work stations. 
     
     
         44 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said moving device comprises at least one robotised arm. 
     
     
         45 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein each vulcanisation station provides devices for heating the molds. 
     
     
         46 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said prevulcanisation station comprises devices for heating the molds. 
     
     
         47 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 45 , wherein said heating devices are associated with said supply device of said at least one pressurised primary fluid. 
     
     
         48 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 45 , wherein said heating devices comprise heating devices in heat exchanging relation with said toroidal support. 
     
     
         49 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 48 , wherein said heating devices comprise at least one electrical resistor. 
     
     
         50 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 35 , wherein said vulcanisation module comprises at least one mold changing station adapted to replace the vulcanisation mold. 
     
     
         51 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 50 , wherein said mold changing station is integrated in a vulcanisation station. 
     
     
         52 . The vulcanisation apparatus for vehicle wheel tyres according to  claim 50 , wherein said mold changing station is integrated in a prevulcanisation and molding station.