MXPA01002778A - Dual wheel tire grinder - Google Patents

Abstract

A tire grinding apparatus (10) comprising at least one support arm (30) pivotally connected to a base;and a leading and trailing of grinding wheels (40, 42) rotatably carried by the spport arm (30) to engage the outer surface (12) of a tire (14). The grinding wheels rotate in opposite directions and are partially diposed in a hood (90) that is in fluid communication with a vacuum source (86). A source of pressurized air (82) is in fluid communication with a blower (80) that is disposed between the grinding wheels such that it directs pressurized air against the surface of the tire being ground so as to remove dust from tread grooves (18) and sipes (20) of the tire. The position of the trailing wheel (42) is adjustable with respect to the leading wheel (40) and the support arm (30). The position of the support arm (30) is also adjustable with respect to the tire (14).

Description

DOUBLE MUELA TIRE RECTIFIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to an apparatus for grinding and polishing tires, more particularly, to a machine for grinding tires having two pairs of grinding wheels in combination with a dust removal system. Specifically, this relates to an apparatus for grinding tires having a pair of abrasive wheels with the wheels of the pairs rotating in opposite directions while the dust collection system directs compressed air against the tire and then empties the powder away from the tire between the abrasive wheels.

Background Information Treating the outer surface of a tire by grinding or polishing it is desirable for several reasons in the manufacturing process of a tire. For example, one of the final cases in the tire manufacturing process is to balance a tire by grinding the rubber of the appropriate portions of the tread or bead of the tire. This removal allows the tire to be mechanically balanced. Polishing the surface of the tire may also be desirable in certain situations to provide a pleasing appearance to the tire to increase its aesthetics while on the floor of a showroom. These grinding and polishing processes create large amounts of rubber dust. A substantial amount of this powder remains on the tire trapped in the grooves of the tread and in the grooves. The powder must be washed from the tire or supported with the tire. The tire appears dirty when dust is not removed and dust falls on the floor of the manufacturing facility. The dust also adheres to the tire when it is manipulated or falls on the floor of the exhibition hall during its exhibition. Thus, it is desirable in the art to provide a dust removal system that acts in cooperation with a rectifying apparatus to remove a substantial amount of the powder from the tire and especially from within the grooves and grooves of the tire. In the prior art, brushes and vacuum systems have been used with some degree of success but there is still a need for improvements. Grinders known in the art typically include an abrasive wheel that rotates rapidly against the outer surface of the tire while the tire rotates relatively slowly through full rotation. When a polishing operation is desired after the grinding operation, the tire can be transferred to another station where the tire is ground. These operations result in the creation of tire dust at two locations in the tire manufacturing facility. Polishing is desirable when the grinding operation results in a relatively rough outer surface. Thus, it is also desirable in the art to provide an improved rectifying apparatus that creates an improved tire surface as a result of the grinding process. It is also desirable to provide an apparatus that rectifies, polishes and removes the powder in a single station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires that combines the steps of grinding and polishing in a single apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires that uses front and rear grinding wheels to first hard identify the surface of the tire with the front grinding wheel and then polish or burnish the surface of the tire with the rear grinding wheel. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding a tire using pairs of front and rear grinding wheels that rotate in opposite directions. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires that removes the dust created by the grinding process and especially from the grooves and grooves of the tread of the tire. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires that has pairs of grinding wheels mounted on adjustable supports., so that the oppositions of the wheels can be adjusted with respect to the surface of the tire. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires having pairs of grinding wheels mounted on adjustable supports so that the orientation of one of the grinding wheels can be adjusted with respect to the other of the grinding wheels. A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires having a bell that at least partially covers the grinding wheels and aids in the removal of rubber dust from the tire. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires that uses a pair of systems that cooperate to remove and collect the dust of the tire. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires that includes a compressed air system and a vacuum system that remove dust from the tire that is being grinded. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires using a pair of abrasive wheels with each of the abrasive wheels rotating at different speeds to provide different surface finishes to the tire. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires having front and rear grinding wheels having different grinding surfaces, so that each grinding wheel provides a different finish to the tire. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding tires, which is simple in construction, which achieves the stated objectives in a simple, effective and cheap way, and which solves the problems and which satisfies the existing needs in the art. These and other objects and advantages are obtained by the double tire rectifying apparatus of the present invention, the general nature of which can be established as including a supporting arm.; a front abrasive wheel supported rotatably by the support arm, the front abrasive wheel being adapted to come into contact with the tire being grinded; a back grinding wheel supported rotatably by the support arm, the rear grinding wheel adapted to come into contact with the tire being grinded behind the front grinding wheel when a tire rotates with respect to the support arm; and means for rotating the abrasive wheels. Other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by an apparatus for grinding tires that includes a support arm; an abrasive wheel supported rotatably by the support arm; a source of pressurized air; a blow head conveyed by the support arm adjacent to the ground wheel, a blow head in fluid communication with the pressurized air source and adapted to direct pressurized air against the tire being grinded; and means for rotating the grinding wheel. Still other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a method for grinding the outer surface of a tire including the steps of rotating a tire in a first rotational direction; rotating a front abrasive wheel in the rotational direction opposite to that of the tire; contacting the front grinding wheel with the tire, so that the contact surfaces move in the same tangential direction; spinning a rear grinding wheel in the same rotational direction as the tire; and contacting the rear grinding wheel with the tire behind the front grinding wheel, so that the contacting surfaces move in opposite tangential directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best way in which the applicant contemplated applying the principles of the invention, is set out in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is signaled and exhibited in a distinctive manner in the attached claims. Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the improved double-wheel tire grinder of the present invention, with the vacuum hoses shown in section; Figure 2 is a plan view, fragmented, magnified top, of the apparatus for grinding double-wheel tires of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view, fragmented, amplified, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a fragmentary, elongated sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 3 is a fragmentary, elongated, sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus for grinding double-wheel tires for the present invention is indicated generally by the number 10 in the accompanying drawings. The tire grinding apparatus 10 is used to grind the outer surface 12 of a tire 14. The tire 14 is rotatably supported by an appropriate support 16 which may include means for rotating the tire 14 about its rotational axis. The rectification is used to balance the tire 14 before the sale of the tire. Generally, it is desirable to rectify the heel areas of the tire 14 which include the outer portions of the tread facing outwardly. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, the tire 14 includes larger tread grooves 18 as well as a plurality of grooves 20 that are substantially smaller than the grooves of the tread 18. Both of the grooves of the tread of rolling 18 and the slits 20 are filled with the rubber powder as a result of the grinding process and it is desirable to remove this dust from the grooves and grooves of the tread. The rectifier apparatus 10 generally includes a pair of support arms 30, each supported rotatably by a fixed support 32 in opposite relation to each other. The position of each arm 30 with respect to the tire 14 is adjustable around the pivot or pivot center 34. An appropriate device is provided for adjusting the position of the support arm 30 between a second fixed support 36 and a support arm 30 as shown in FIG. see in Figure 2. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an expandable and retractable cylinder 38, extends between the fixed support 36 on the arm 30, so that the extension of the cylinder 38 activates the arm 30 towards the tire 14 and the retraction cylinder 38 pulls the arm 30 away from the tire 14. In the preferred embodiment, the cylinder 38 is a pneumatically operated cylinder, but in other embodiments of the invention, a hydraulically operated cylinder can be used. In other embodiments of the present invention, other actuators and linear devices known in the art may be employed to adjust the arm 30 around the pivot or center of rotation 34. The support arms 30 may also be adjusted with respect to each other using a pair of adjustment devices 39. The devices 39 extend between the arms 30 and can be operated selectively to change the angle between the arms 3'0. The devices 39 may be any of a variety known in the art. According to one of the objects of the present invention, the grinding apparatus 10 includes a front abrasive wheel 40 and a rear grinding wheel 42 supported by each support arm 30. Each grinding wheel 40 and 42 is supported rotatably by the support arm 30, so that it can rotate freely with respect to the support arm 30. Each abrasive wheel 40 and 42 can be rotatably supported on an appropriate shaft 44. The abrasive wheels 40 and 42 are driven by a motor 46 which is supported by the support arm 30 at the end of the arm 30 opposite the abrasive wheels 40 and 42. A drive pulley 48 is connected to a drive shaft 50 of the motor 46. A pulley 52 is connected to the grinding wheel 40 by means of the arrow 44 and a pulley 54 is connected to the rear abrasive wheel 42 by means of another arrow 44. A reverse pulley 56 is rotatably supported by the arm 30 on another arrow 44. The pulleys 48, 52, 54 and 56 they are connected by a band 58 which is seated on the pulleys 48, 52, 54 and 56 and causes the pulleys 52, 54 and 56 to rotate when the drive pulley 48 is driven by the motor 46. As best seen in the Figure 3, the rotation of the band in the sense contra clockwise 58 causes the pulley 54 and the rear abrasive wheel 42 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, while making the pulley 52 and the front abrasive wheel 40 rotate in the direction of the direction of rotation. clock hands . The web 58 then passes over the bias 56 and returns to the drive pulley 48. The arm 30 is configured so that the pulleys 48, 52, 54 and 56, as well as the web 58 are enclosed within the arm 30 to provide a degree of safety to the rectifying apparatus 10. Other systems may be used to drive the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 with the rectifying apparatus 10 without departing from the concepts of the present invention. For example, each abrasive wheel 40 and 42 can be driven directly with an independent motor. In other embodiments of the present invention, the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 can be driven by a motor and a series of gears. An advantage of the band 58 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the band 58 allows some slippage and accommodation of the shock forces that are experienced by the apparatus 10. As discussed above, the position of the arm 30 with respect to the tire 14 can be adjusted through the selective activation of the piston cylinder 38. Such adjusting of the arm 30 also allows adjustment of the front abrasive wheel 40 with respect to the tire 14. When other tires are used or different surface finishes are desired , it is also required that the rear abrasive wheel 42 be adjustable with respect to the front abrasive wheel 40. An adjusting arm 60 provides such adjustment. The adjusting arm 60 is rotatably supported by the arm 30 in the pivot or pivot center 62. The adjusting arm 60 is L-shaped and includes a first end 64 and a second end 66. The pulley 54 and the The rear abrasive wheel 42 is supported on the first end 64 of the adjusting arm 60. A threaded nut 68 is rotatably supported by the second end 66 of the adjusting arm 60. A threaded rod 70 is threadably coupled to the nut 68 and extends the entire length of the arm 30. The threaded rod 70 is threadably coupled to a block 72 which is supported by the arm 30. The rotation of the threaded rod 70 thus makes the second end 66 of the adjustment arm 60 moves with respect to block 72. When the second end 66 is moved, the rear abrasive wheel 42 is adjusted with respect to the tire 14, the support arm 30, and the front abrasive wheel 40. The separation of the threads on the threaded rod 70 perm The adjustment of the rear grinding wheel 42 is accurate. According to another object of the present invention, a blow head 80 is positioned adjacent the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 and can be placed directly between the abrasive wheels 40 and 42. The blow head 80 is in communication selective hydraulic with a source of pressurized air 82 by means of a supply line 84. The supply line can be placed outside the support arm 30 so as not to interfere with the operation of the web 58. The blow head 80 is adapted to direct pressurized air against the surface 12 of the tire 14 to blow the powder from the grooves 18 and the grooves 20 of the tread. A vacuum system is also employed in cooperation with the rectifying apparatus 10 to remove the dust created by the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 and dislodged by the blower head 80. The vacuum system includes a vacuum source 85 and vacuum tubes 88 which direct the vacuum flow created by the vacuum source 86 adjacent the surface of the tire 12 around the abrasive wheels 40 and 42. The vacuum system may include appropriate filters, so that the dust gathered by the vacuum system does not endanger the vacuum source 86. A bell 90 is supported by the support 30 and substantially surrounds the abrasive wheels 40 and 42. The interior of the bell 90 is in communication hydraulic with the vacuum source 86, so that the bell 90 functions as a nozzle for the vacuum tubes 88. The blower head 80 is also at least partially located inside the bell 90. The bell 90 works in this way to capture a large percentage of the dust removed from the tire 14 and directs it towards the vacuum system. The rotation of the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 aids in dust collection by channeling the powder into the channel between the wheels 40 and 42, where the vacuum system reliably removes the powder as described by the arrows markings with the number 92. The rectifying apparatus 10 is used to grind and polish the surface 12 of the tire 14. The tire 14 is supported on the appropriate support 16 at the location of the apparatus for grinding tires 10. The cylinder 38 is then used to position the arm 30 and the front grinding wheel 40 in the proper position so that the grinding wheel 40 makes contact with the surface 12 of the tire 14. The rear grinding wheel 42 is then placed with the threaded rod 70, so that the abrasion grinding provided by the rear grinding wheel 42 is a fine or polished grinding which results in a pleasant aesthetic appearance and a desirable surface finish to The tire 14. With such rough grinding and fine or polished grinding, one of the objects of the present invention is achieved. It was also contemplated that the surfaces of the wheels 40 and 42 may vary to provide the desired surface finish. After the wheels 40 and 42 are placed, the tire 14 is rotated and the drive motors 46 are activated by causing the band 58 to rotate and drive the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 against the tire 14. When the engines 46 are turned on , the vacuum source 86 is also started, as well as the air pressure source 82. The vacuum source 86 draws a vacuum and creates a vacuum flow from the bell 90, while the air pressure source 82 directs air Pressurized to the blow head 80, where it is directed against the surface 12 of the tire 14. The pressurized air cleans the dust from the grooves 18 and grooves 20 of the tread, where it is directed through the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 to empty hoses 88.

The amount and quality of the grinding provided by the grinding wheels 40 and 42 can be adjusted by adjusting the grain or roughness of the grinding wheels 40 and 42. The quality of the grinding can also be adjusted by altering the speed at which the grinding wheels rotate 40 and 42. The rotational speeds of the abrasive wheels 40 and 42 can be adjusted by changing the diameters of the pulleys 52 and 54. In some situations, it may be desirable to make the rear abrasive wheel 42 rotate faster than the front abrasive wheel 40. In still other situations, it may be desirable to make the front abrasive wheel 40 rotate more than the rear abrasive wheel 42. Such rotational speeds depend on the type of tire 14 being grinded and the type of grinding desired. Accordingly, the improved tire grinding apparatus is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive and efficient device which accomplishes all the enumerated objectives, provides the elimination of the difficulties encountered with the previous devices, and solves the problems and obtains new results in the technique. In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for the purpose of being brief, clear, and understandable, but do not imply unnecessary limitations thereof beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes. and they are intended to be widely constructed. In addition, the description and illustration of the inventions is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the apparatus for rectifying improved tires is constructed and utilized, the characteristics of the construction, and the new advantages and useful results obtained; the novel and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations are set forth in the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (26)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. An apparatus for grinding tires for grinding the surface of a rotating tire, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: a support arm; a front abrasive wheel supported rotatably by the support arm, the front abrasive wheel is adapted to come into contact with the tire; a back grinding wheel supported rotatably by the support arm, the rear grinding wheel is adapted to contact the tire behind the front grinding wheel when the tire rotates with respect to the support arm; and means for rotating the abrasive wheels.

2. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for rotation cause one of the abrasive wheels to rotate in a direction opposite to the other of the abrasive wheels.

3. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for rotation cause one of the abrasive wheels to rotate at a different rotational speed than the other one of the abrasive wheels.

4. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the abrasive wheels has a grinding surface having a certain roughness, the roughness of the front grinding wheel being different from the roughness of the rear grinding wheel.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the abrasive wheels has a rotational axis, the rotational axes of the abrasive wheels being substantially parallel to each other.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 5, characterized in that the rotational axes are substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the tire.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for rotation include a drive motor and a band, the strip being operably connected to the drive motor and to each of the abrasive wheels.

8. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a pulley connected to each of the abrasive wheels and a drive pulley connected to the drive motor, the belt being seated on each of the pulleys.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a reverse pulley supported by the support arms, the belt being seated on the reverse pulley.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that in addition to a base, the support arm on such a base, a retractable and retractable piston cylinder connected to the base and the support arm and turning means for mounting in a rotating way the support arm on the base.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that further: an adjusting clamp having a first end and a second end supported rotatably by the support arm; one of the abrasive wheels being rotatably supported by the first end of the adjusting clamp; and means for selectively moving the adjustment bracket connected to the second end of the adjustment bracket.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 11, characterized in that the means for selective movement include a threaded rod, a nut rotatably connected to the second end of the adjusting arm, and a threaded block supported by the support arm , the threaded rod is threadably coupled to the block and the nut, so that the rotation of the threaded rod moves the nut and the second end of the adjustment arm with respect to the block.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 12, characterized in that the adjustment bracket is L-shaped and has an elbow with the elbow being rotatably connected to the support arm.

The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a source of compressed air and a blow head adapted to direct pressurized air from the source of compressed air against the tire.

15. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 14, characterized in that it also comprises a vacuum source and at least one vacuum hose that directs a vacuum flow created by the vacuum source adjacent to the abrasive wheels.

16. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 15, characterized in that the blow head is placed between the grinding wheels.

17. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 15, characterized in that it also comprises a bell supported by the support arm, the bell at least partially surrounds the grinding wheels and the blower head, the vacuum hose being in hydraulic communication with the inside of the bell.

18. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 1, characterized in that further: a second support arm placed adjacent to the support arm; a second front abrasive wheel supported rotatably by the second support arm, the second front abrasive wheel is adapted to contact the other side of the tire as the front abrasive wheel; a second rear abrasive wheel supported rotatably by the second support arm, the second rear abrasive wheel is adapted to contact the tire behind the second front abrasive wheel when the tire rotates with respect to the second support arm; and means for rotating each of the abrasive wheels.

19. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 18, characterized in that it further comprises means for adjusting the position of the second support arm with respect to the support arm.

20. The apparatus for grinding tires for grinding the surface of a rotating tire, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: a support arm; an abrasive wheel supported rotatably by the support arm; a source of pressurized air; a blow head supported by the support arm adjacent to the grinding wheel, the blow head is in hydraulic communication with the source of pressurized air and adapted to direct pressurized air against the tire; and means for rotating the grinding wheel.

21. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 20, characterized in that it also comprises means for creating a vacuum flow and directing the vacuum flow adjacent to the grinding wheel.

22. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 21, characterized in that it further comprises a bell supported by the support arm, the abrasive wheel at least partially surrounded by the bell, the blower head at least partially surrounded by the bell, and the empty flow in hydraulic communication with the interior of the hood.

23. The apparatus for grinding tires according to claim 22, characterized in that it further comprises a second grinding wheel supported by the support arm at least partially inside the bell.

24. A method for grinding the external surface of a tire, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: rotating the tire in a first rotational direction; rotating a front abrasive wheel in the rotational direction opposite to that of the tire; contacting the front abrasive wheel with the tire so that the contact surfaces move in the same tangential direction; spinning a rear grinding wheel in the same rotational direction as the tire; and contacting the rear grinding wheel with the tire behind the front grinding wheel, so that the contact surfaces move in opposite tangential directions.

25. The method of compliance with the claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises the step of directing pressurized air against the tire adjacent to the front and rear grinding wheels.

26. The method of compliance with the claim 25, characterized in that it also comprises the step of creating a vacuum flow and directing the vacuum flow adjacent to the abrasive wheels.