RS52477B - PROCEDURE AND TIRE MANAGEMENT PLANT - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling the production of tires, in which the production process is divided into at least two consecutive time steps and in which a raw tire and / or at least one tool and / or material used in at least one of the process steps is inserted during a single process step. driven by at least two control devices, and in which at least one movement assigned to the first process step is performed, temporally at least partially overlapped with the second step assigned to the movement, characterized in that the control struts are driven simultaneously during at least part of their movement The application contains 14 more patent claims.

Description

METHOD AND PLANT FOR

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

PNEUMATICS

The invention relates to a procedure for managing the production of tires, in which the production process is divided into at least two production stages that follow each other in time, and in which, during the individual stages of the process, the raw tire is placed and/or at least one tool and/or material used in at least one production stage is moved from at least two manipulation devices, as well as in which at least one, the first stage of the process, the movement belonging to the first stage of the process is performed at least partially overlapped in time with the movement assigned to the second stage of the process.

In addition, the invention also relates to a device for managing the production of tires that has flow control for the coordination of at least two successive stages of the process, as well as at least two manipulation devices for positioning the raw tire and/or contains at least one, for performing at least one of the production stages of the provided tools and/or materials.

Tire production is carried out in a typical way with the use of tire making machines. One such machine for making tires includes, as a rule, one or more rollers on which strip-shaped raw rubber materials are wound. In certain applications, reinforcements from parts of steel cables or fibrous materials made of synthetic material are additionally applied. After the tire production is completed, it is removed from the tire production roller and introduced into the heat press for vulcanization.

During the production of tires, it is necessary to assemble many components. Each component of the tire is assigned by the manufacturer of the tire making machines a given part of the process, which in turn often consists of many individual actions. The necessary movements of the raw tire during the individual parts of the process or applied tools or supplied materials are typically performed by servo motors or other actuators.

In order to allow greater flexibility when configuring the tires, according to the state of the art, all parts of the process are performed as rounded and temporally delimited process steps. At the end of a certain stage of the process, all the components started in the given case are in a state of rest, and after the passage of some safety time, a restart follows in order to perform the next part of the process. This procedure supports the omission or addition of parts of the process as well as the reordering of individual process steps that can be specified by the respective machine user.

The appropriate performance of parts of the process also supports the adaptation of the parameters of the tire production process to the specific requirements and circumstances of the machine user. For example, the speed of certain parts of the process can vary, if this does not interfere with the applied technique of the procedure, and in this case the distances that need to be bridged can be adjusted to the spatial situation. Some simple adaptation is also possible according to the specific type of tire that needs to be produced.

To support this state-of-the-art management of the tire making process, the conventional tire making machine has a central control in which all machine flows are programmed in a hierarchical structure. Through the upper software level set here, commands for performing certain operations are transmitted to the lower software level. In the lower software levels, commands are created for applied actuators, for example servomotors. This is followed by the transfer of these commands to the external servo control with the implementation of the implemented Bus-system.

The external servo control decodes the transmitted command and performs the corresponding actions. Upon completion of the given sequence of movement of the servo drive, feedback information about the performed process is transmitted to the central control, in a typical manner also with the application of the Bus system. As a rule, memory programmable control is used as central control.

The feedback transmitted from the external servo control is first processed in the lower software levels and then implemented by the higher levels. After that, the appropriate next step is initiated from the parent level for the next part of the process to be performed.

Not only the relevant data transfer time as well as the data processing time, but also the predicted time safety intervals between individual movements of the applied servo motors lead to dead time. Transfer times and processing times from the upper software level through the lower software level and the Bus-system to the servo control and back in the reverse direction, generate dead times of about 200 ms after each activation of the servo motor. In a typical run of about 30 servo actuations per tire that needs to be produced this alone wastes about 6 seconds of dead time. By taking into account further time safety distances between individual process steps, the net process time results in an extension of the cycle time of about 15% only on the basis of these dead times and safety distances.

From US 5 221 406 A, a procedure for managing the production of tires is already known, in which the production process is divided into at least two subsequent steps in time. Multiple process steps can be performed simultaneously.

EP 1 447 728 A2 describes a process for synchronized drive of machines. Synchronization follows with the use of individually driven axles.

US 2005/260 294 Al describes a heat press for tires. The raw tire loading device and the tire heat press are interconnected.

The task of the proposed invention is to improve the procedure in the introduction of the indicated type in such a way as to support a faster execution of the overall process.

According to the invention, this task is solved in such a way that the tools during at least one part of the movement flow are started simultaneously.

A further task of the proposed procedure is to construct the device in the introduction of the indicated type in such a way as to support a faster execution of the process.

According to the invention, this task is solved by simultaneously moving the tools during at least one part of their movement flow.

By overlapping the movement in time, it is first possible to shorten the braking and acceleration times, since the handover does not follow when the work piece in question is at rest, but when the movement is performed. Further shortening of the required transport time can also be achieved by performing movements without recoil and a circular movement path. The waiting time for the relevant process component is eliminated, so it is possible, according to the version of the execution, to realize steeper ascents with increased and decreased depth without shortening the times relevant to the process. In addition, non-relevant movements for the process can also be simplified and corresponding movement times shortened. The management structure of the new kind enables the minimization of the relevant communication times during the execution of the process.

In order to shorten the communication time during the execution of the process, it is particularly important that one superior guide axis transmits information to the local management of the exciter long before taking over the movement from the exciter, so that the corresponding movement will follow at the exact given moment. After reviewing the state of the exciter and its kinematic conditions, the local control reports back to the guide axis whether the movement in question can be carried out exactly at the given moment. In this case, dead times and decelerations resulting from deceleration can be taken into account. In the case of the missing ability or readiness of the exciter to perform the given movement at the given moment, the feedback to the guide axis also follows in time before the corresponding moment, so that the switching on of the clock can be interrupted until the required readiness is achieved.

Dead times can be particularly minimized or avoided by applying a guide shaft that is continuously extended and the local control of the exciters subordinate to the guide shaft.

According to one example of the implementation, it is foreseen that the control of the valves is carried out by the guide shaft.

The time management can take place so that the guide shaft is stopped in the absence of conditions for the next switch-on.

In particular, it is foreseen that the guiding axis performs the time coordination of the parts of the process.

For the structuring of complex process flows, it has proven to be advantageous to assign several local exciter controls to one common guide axis.

According to a further typical form of execution, it was meant that servomotors are excited from the leading shaft.

One particular principle of the invention is reflected in the fact that the guide axis is realized as a virtual axis.

It also turned out to be important that the guide axis is realized through a digital program.

The shortening of secondary process times is also supported by the fact that handovers are at least partially performed at a non-zero speed.

Further minimization of secondary process times is achieved by crossing continuous movement paths at least partially.

In the drawings, examples of the implementation of the invention are schematically presented. It shows: Figure 1 Schematic representation of the development of speeds in parts

process with an assigned lead axis,

Figure 2 Figure of the wiring diagram for program clarification

structures according to the method according to the invention,

Figure 3 Flow diagram of a typical corresponding component

the procedure according to the invention and

Figure 4 Diagram to clarify the positioning of the guide shaft.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of three motion flows (1, 2, 3) that are each assigned to parts of the tire manufacturing process. At the same time, the flow related to the time axis (4) and the speed axis (5) is indicated here. The coupling of individual movement flows (1, 2, 3) is coordinated from the guide axis (9).

Flows of movement (1, 2, 3) show an ascent in the form of a steep plane, one will cross the area at a mostly constant speed, as well as a steep decline. In the area of the guide axis (9) the timing (7) is drawn.

Movement flows (1,2) take place in such a way that movement flow (2) is directly connected to movement flow (1) without a corresponding dead time. The movement streams (2, 3) overlap in the region of the descending or ascending plane so that the delivery of the relevant processing piece takes place at a speed different from zero.

Figure 2 clarifies the program structure according to the method according to the invention. The upper software level (8) includes a virtual axis (9), a component sequencer (10) as well as a single Build sequencer (11). The lower software level (12) is equipped with one axis sequencer (13). The upper software level (8) and the lower software level (12) are connected via one synchronizer (14). Through the communication path (15), commands and feedback can be exchanged between the upper software level (8) and the lower software level (12).

The component sequencer (10) specifies the sequence within the component. All the necessary construction groups with the corresponding action are selected. The build sequencer (11) then compiles the tire build cycle. For the tire, all relevant components are arranged one after the other and brought into the right time sequence.

With the application of synchronization (14), coordination of the servo amplifier (16) also takes place. The servo amplifiers (16) are connected via a communication path (17) to the lower software level (12), which also enables the exchange of commands and feedback.

The component sequencer (10) examines the conditions for continued movement of the guide axis (9) and drives it as well. In this case the missing connections are requested.

The Virtual Axis (9) performs the function of the sequencer device. It follows that the control of the valves is also taken over from the guide axis. The virtual axis (9) typically operates continuously and at a constant speed. The virtual axis (9) is in turn the guide axis for a larger number of slave servo axes (6). The virtual axis (9) always stops when the component sequencer (10) recognizes the missing condition for further activation. This can be, for example, the absence of an active connection of a participating axis in the process. In this case, the virtual axis (9) remains stationary until the conditions for further activation are met. If the conditions are met, the component sequencer (10) moves the virtual axis (9) further to the next intermediate position. As soon as the conditions for guiding to a new intermediate position are met, the next intermediate position is activated as the new target position. The virtual axis (9) moves in a typical way at that moment still towards the previous intermediate position.

The servo shaft (6) primarily refers to the actuator, which is made as a servo motor.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart for one selected component according to the method according to the invention without resulting dead times. The input to the process flow follows starting from the Build sequencer (11) in the sequencer component (10). The component sequencer (10) connects all relevant axes to the virtual axis (9) and assigns further movement of the virtual axis (9). In the presented exemplary embodiment, the communication path (15) is made with separate paths for transmitting commands from the component sequencer (10) to the lower software level (12) and for feedback from the lower software level (12) to the component sequencer (10). In the area of the lower software level (12), the axis sequencer (13) performs one connection of the tire drum and the placement device and activates the placement belt in the given case. The axis sequencer (13) is connected to the assigned servo control.

The virtual axis (9) is connected via a command and feedback communication path to the component sequencer (10). In this case, driving movements of the virtual axis are performed. The virtual axis (9) is the only element that determines the time. The process can thus be carried out free of dead time. Timing follows through synchronization (14).

Figure 4 clarifies the positions of the guide shaft (9). First comes the start towards the first intermediate position. If all conditions for guidance to the second intermediate position are met, the target position is set to the second intermediate position. In the presented example, the intermediate position (1) is passed without stopping the building element being transported.

In general, it is valid that when all the conditions for finding the nth position are fulfilled, the target position is placed at the intermediate position n. In the presented example, the guide shaft waits at intermediate position (2) for conditions still missing at that moment.

According to the corresponding control procedure according to the pronal, the existing movement data for the applied servomotors are mathematically analyzed and described by a system of equations. A corresponding mathematical description follows for each movement of each participating servo axis. On the basis of the appropriate equations, it is possible for the management to calculate the expected movement of the shaft. On the basis of this process model, it is especially possible to perform movements without recoil. This reduces the mechanical load on the drive elements and extends the life of the complete machine. In addition, the continuous execution of movement usually leads to shortened movement times.

According to one variant of the invention, it was particularly thought to calculate in the control the systems of equations and the corresponding data for the movement time. In particular, it is possible to transfer the calculated movement data to the servo control as scaled tables.

The degree of the system of equations depends on the number of secondary conditions that must hold. In particular, it was intended to apply the nth-order polynomial as a system of equations, where n results from the number of n + 1 side conditions. According to one example of implementation, the place, speed and acceleration, i.e. braking, are always set for the beginning and end of the movement. In this case, there are six side conditions. All systems of equations are calculated for the time flow in real-time management, so the corresponding movement tables are made with it. Thus, if necessary, new movement data can be created for each tire.

For some steering start, which corresponds to the beginning of the tire making process, all are connected, in the process of the participating axle via power steering, to the virtual axis (9) of the central steering guide. The connection is active for each of the servo axes (6) as long as the corresponding servo axis is participating in the process. According to one embodiment, each position of the virtual axis (9) in the servo control corresponds to one position for each servomotor. The virtual axis (9) works as a primary axis (master) and the servo control as a secondary axis (slave). It is hereby specified that the secondary axis (slave) of the defined servo axis follows the calculated axis movement profile (9) without the need for data exchange between individual controls during the process. Corresponding transmission times and the resulting dead times are thereby avoided during the process.

Claims (15)

1. A method for managing the production of tires, in which the production process is divided into at least two time-following steps, and in which, during an individual process step, a raw tire is loaded and/or at least one of the tools and/or materials used in at least one of the process steps are moved by at least two handling devices, as well as in which at least one movement assigned to the first process step is performed, temporally at least partially overlapped with the second step assigned to the movement, characterized by the fact that they are handling devices, during at least one part of their movement flow is driven simultaneously. 2. The method according to claim 1, indicated by the fact that a continuously rotating guide shaft and subordinate local controls of the actuator are applied. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control of the valves is carried out from the guide shaft. 4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide shaft is stopped in the absence of conditions for further engagement. 5. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide axis implements the time coordination of the process parts. 6. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that several local actuator controls are assigned to one common guide axis. 7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that servo motors are controlled from the guide axis. 8. The method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the guide shaft is implemented as a virtual shaft (9). 9. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide shaft is implemented through a digital program. 10. The method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the transmissions are performed at least partially at a rate different from zero. 11. The method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that they at least partially cross continuous paths. 12. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized by the fact that the servo motor movement data is described by a system of equations of the nth order at n+1 secondary conditions and that the calculation of the expected movements is performed with this system of equations. 13. A device for managing the production of tires that has control during at least two time steps one after the other, as well as having at least two handling devices for positioning the raw tire and/or at least one tool and/or material provided for performing one of the steps, indicated by the fact that the handling devices during at least one part of their course of movement are started simultaneously. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the guide shaft which is made to rotate continuously, is provided with local actuator controls. 15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the guide shaft is made as a valve guide.