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DE-102024210829-A1 - Method and production line for applying a marking or functional component to a vehicle tire

DE102024210829A1DE 102024210829 A1DE102024210829 A1DE 102024210829A1DE-102024210829-A1

Abstract

Method and production line for applying a first marking or functional component attached to the surface of a vehicle tire at a predetermined spatial distance relative to a second marking or functional component present on the vehicle tire, wherein, prior to application and attachment, the surface of the vehicle tire is cleaned in a connection area, and the vehicle tire is spatially positioned in a first production unit of the production line such that a location for applying the first marking or functional component can be determined on the outside of the vehicle tire, depending on the position of the second marking or functional component, which is located in the working area of the respective tools, actuators, or sensors effective in the production units, after which the vehicle tire is conveyed, while maintaining its position, into one or more subsequent production units, and at the application location, the surface of the vehicle tire is first cleaned in the connection area, which is limited to a surface of the first marking or functional component facing the vehicle tire, and then the first marking or functional component is applied.

Inventors

  • Deik Jon Wehner

Assignees

  • CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (14)

  1. A method for applying a first marking or functional component (1) attached to a surface of a vehicle tire (10, 10') using several production devices (101, 106) in a production line (100), wherein the first marking or functional component (1) is applied at a predetermined spatial distance relative to a second marking or functional component (2) present on the vehicle tire (10, 10') and, prior to application and attachment, the surface of the vehicle tire is cleaned in a connection area between the vehicle tire (10, 10') and the first marking or functional component (1), characterized in that the vehicle tire (10, 10') is spatially positioned and stored in a first production device (101) of a production line (100) such that a marking or functional component (1) is applied to the outside of the vehicle tire (10, 10'), the position of which is predetermined by the position of the second marking or functional component (2), and spatially separated from the latter. a spaced location for applying the first marking or functional component (1) can be determined such that the location for application is in a working area of the respective tools, actuators (107, 108) or sensors effective in the production facilities (101, 106), after which the vehicle tire (10, 10') is conveyed into one or more subsequent production facilities (106) of the production line (100) while maintaining its position relative to the production line (100), and in one or more of the production facilities (106) at the location for application, the surface of the vehicle tire (10, 10') is first cleaned in the connection area, the cleaning being limited to an area that corresponds at most to the surface of the first marking or functional component (1) facing the vehicle tire (10, 10'), after which the first marking or functional component (1) is applied to the cleaned surface.
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second marking or functional component (1, 2) is designed as a visible marking, preferably as a barcode or QR code provided on the vehicle tire (10, 10').
  3. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first and/or second marking or functional component (1, 2) is designed as a non-visible component, preferably as an electronic component or container for an electronic component.
  4. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , in which the first marking or functional component (1) is applied to the sidewall (3) of the vehicle tire (10, 10').
  5. Procedure according to Claim 4 , wherein the location for applying the first marking or functional component (1) to the surface of the sidewall (3) is determined on the one hand by an angle (5) formed around the axis of rotation (4) of the vehicle tire (10, 10') between the first and second marking or functional component (1, 2) and on the other hand by a radial distance (6) to the axis of rotation (4) or by a distance (7) to a center line (8) of the vehicle tire (10, 10') intersecting the axis of rotation (4).
  6. Procedures according to one or more of the Claims 1 until 5 , in which the specification of the spatially spaced location for the application of the first marking or functional component (1) is determined, taking into account previously measured values for geometric, static or dynamic properties of the respective vehicle tire (10, 10').
  7. Procedures according to one or more of the Claims 1 until 6 , in which the cleaning is limited to the surface of the first marking or functional component (1) facing the vehicle tire (10, 10') by abrasive methods.
  8. Procedures according to one or more of the Claims 1 until 7 , in which the cleaning is limited to the surface of the first marking or functional component (1) facing the vehicle tire (10, 10') by means of compressed air or chemical processes.
  9. Procedures according to one or more of the Claims 1 until 8 , in which the first marking or functional component (1) is applied to the cleaned surface of the vehicle tire (10, 10') by a material-bonded connection.
  10. Procedure according to Claim 9 , wherein the first marking or functional component (1) is designed as a strip or sticker (2) made of elastomeric material connected to the outer sidewall (3) of the vehicle tire.
  11. Production line (100) for applying a first marking or functional component (1) attached to a partially cleaned surface of a vehicle tire (10, 10') at a predetermined spatial distance relative to a second marking or functional component (2) present on the vehicle tire (10, 10') according to the method according to Claim 1 until 10 , wherein the production line (100) has the following features: - several production devices (101, 106) acting on the vehicle tires (10, 10') with in a respective working area of the production line directions (101, 106) effective tools, actuators or sensors (107, 108, 102), - one or more conveying devices (105, 105') for conveying the vehicle tire (10, 10') through the working area of the respective manufacturing devices (101, 106), - a first manufacturing device (101) with a detection device (102) for the second marking or functional component (2) and with a positioning device (103) for the vehicle tire (10, 10'), wherein the vehicle tire can be positioned and stored on a conveying device (105) by the positioning device (103) depending on the position of the second marking or functional component (2) determined by the detection device (102), such that a predetermined location spatially separated from the second marking or functional component (2) is available for applying the first marking or functional component (1) to the Vehicle tires (10, 10') are located in the respective working area of the production facilities (101, 106), - a second production facility (106) downstream of the first production facility (101) and equipped with a cleaning device (107), in whose working area cleaning of the surface of the vehicle tire (10, 10') in the connection area can be carried out with cleaning tools at the application location, wherein the cleaning tools can be arranged so that the cleaning can be limited to an area that corresponds at most to the surface of the first marking or functional component (1) facing the vehicle tire (10, 10'), - a device (108) for applying the first marking or functional component (1) in an associated working area, arranged in the second production facility (106) or provided in a third production facility downstream of the second production facility, wherein the conveying devices (105, 105') are designed such that after the positioning of the vehicle tire (10, 10') in the first production unit (101) the vehicle tire (10, 10') can be conveyed in the production line (100) in a position constant through the respective working areas of the production units (101, 106).
  12. production line after Claim 11 , in which a conveyor system (105, 105') connecting several manufacturing facilities (101, 106) is provided.
  13. production line after Claim 11 or 12 , in which the cleaning tool (107) and the device for applying the first marking or functional component (108) are arranged on the same support or axis.
  14. Production line according to one or more of the Claims 11 until 13 , in which the manufacturing facilities (101, 106) are designed as modularly constructed facilities, through which the vehicle tire (10, 10') can be conveyed in a position constant with respect to and through the respective working areas of the modularly constructed facilities.

Description

The invention relates to a method for applying a first marking or functional component attached to a surface of a vehicle tire by means of several manufacturing devices in a production line, wherein the first marking or functional component is applied at a predetermined spatial distance relative to a second marking or functional component present on the vehicle tire, and the surface of the vehicle tire is cleaned in a connection area between the vehicle tire and the first marking or functional component before application and attachment. The invention also relates to a production line for carrying out the method with several production devices acting on the vehicle tires, which are equipped with tools, actuators or sensors effective in a respective working area of the production devices. Besides simple markings on a tire surface, such as engraving or color design, there are many types of marking or functional components applied to the surface of a vehicle tire. For example, positive structures that contrast with the surrounding tire surface can be directly incorporated into the tire sidewall using corresponding negative molds in the vulcanization mold. Similarly, marking components made of various materials, designed as stickers, can be applied to the outer surface of the tire after its manufacture. Among other things, such stickers can be used to specify the mounting position of a tire on a rim, depending on the tire's characteristics. Ultimately, functional components, such as pocket-shaped structures made of a material compatible with the tire, can also be applied to the inner or outer surface of a tire, which are intended for the accommodation of electronic components, for example for the accommodation of RFID transponders (RFID tags) that are suitable for communicating with an RFID reader located outside the tire. US 11,162,873 B2 The document discloses a method for applying such an object to the inside of a vehicle tire, depending on a marking on the outside of the tire. The application takes place after cleaning the inside, the cleaning area being less than ten times the object's surface area. When applying marking or functional components that are not formed during vulcanization but are attached to the tire surface as separate stickers, material strips, or individual pieces, preparation or cleaning of the tire surface in the respective bonding area is always necessary. Any influence on the technical properties of a tire due to such preparation or cleaning can be reliably ruled out. However, while the dimensions of a cleaning-prepared connection area on the inside of a vehicle tire are rather insignificant and limited only for procedural or manufacturing reasons, there is a significant problem when applying marking or functional components to the outside of a vehicle tire: any preparation or cleaning of the surface, however minor, by mechanical or chemical means, creates a visible change to the tire surface, which is immediately noticeable to the customer, especially on brand-new tires, and is mistakenly interpreted as a sign of wear or careless workmanship. The invention therefore had the objective of, on the one hand, to apply a marking or a functional component precisely at a predetermined location on the outside of the vehicle tire, and on the other hand, to limit the respective surface area that needs to be cleaned for applying a marking or functional component to the outside as precisely as possible to this location and to adapt and design it to the connection area in such a way that the cleaning area is sufficiently dimensioned for the secure connection between the marking or functional component and the surface of the vehicle tire, but is no longer visible after the marking or functional component has been applied. This problem is solved by a method with the features of the main claim. Further embodiments are described in the dependent claims. A production line particularly suited for carrying out the method is also disclosed. In this process, the vehicle tire is spatially positioned and stored in a first production facility of a production line in such a way that a location for applying the first marking or functional component can be determined on the outside of the vehicle tire, depending on the position of the second marking or functional component and spatially separated from the latter. In a first manufacturing facility or a first station of a production line, the vehicle tire is precisely positioned so that the location for applying the first marking or functional component, and thus also the location of the connection and cleaning area, is fixed relative to the production line and can be described and specified with corresponding coordinates for further processing. In this process, the vehicle tire is spatially positioned and stored in a first production facility of a production line in such a way that a location for applying the first marking or functional component can be determined