CN217891938U - Production line for producing self-sealing products from a material having a self-sealing elastomer composition - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a production line for producing self-sealing products from a material having a self-sealing elastomer composition, said self-sealing elastomer composition having a predetermined formulation. It also relates to a method for producing a self-sealing product (SSP) from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition with a predetermined formulation, said method being carried out by the disclosed production line.

Description

Production line for producing self-sealing products from a material having a self-sealing elastomer composition

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a production line which carries out a process for producing a self-sealing product with a material comprising one or more elastomeric materials and an auxiliary material of a self-sealing elastomeric composition. The utility model discloses still relate to supply and measure in the mill that installs the production line and produce all parts of the required different raw and other materials of self sealss product.

Background

In the field of the production of rubber mixtures, self-sealing compositions are used to ensure the tightness of the tyre tread (for example, in the event of the tyre tread being pierced by a piercing object, such as a nail, screw or other foreign body). In order to be useful, self-sealing products (or "SSPs") must satisfy a variety of physical and chemical conditions. In particular, it needs to be effective over a very wide range of service temperatures throughout the service life of the tire tread. It needs to be able to seal the puncture while the puncturing object remains in place, and after the puncturing object is expelled, it must be able to fill the hole and waterproof the tire.

SSP type products because of their combination with

Tire (A)

Is a trademark of the applicant) are known in combination. These very viscous SSPs require specific production methods, since, in general, traditional mixers for rubber products (e.g. internal mixers with rotors or open mills with cylinders) are not suitable for producing these types of viscous compositions. Thus, in these processes, the holdup can be very high, resulting in an undesirable mixture and a significant loss of productivity, making it unsuitable for industrial use.

In order to overcome these drawbacks, patent FR2938263B1 of the applicant discloses a method for manufacturing a self-sealing elastomeric composition. The process involves a screw mixer extruder (single screw, twin screw or multiple screw) which is known to significantly shear the mixture during production to produce a substantially viscous mixture. The method includes the step of producing a masterbatch having at least one diene elastomer and more than 30 parts per hundred rubber (or "phr") of a hydrocarbon resin. In order to obtain a self-sealing composition, the method further comprises a step of adding at least one crosslinking system in the masterbatch, said step being carried out by mixing all the substances at or up to a predetermined temperature (for example, 100 ℃ to 150 ℃). At the end of the process, the self-sealing composition is produced under satisfactory industrial conditions.

In the production of self-sealing elastomeric compositions, the chemical product is generally metered in small quantities. The different ingredients are supplied to the supply system in the form of hot melt bags of powder and liquid contained in a tub (or equivalent container, such as a tank or known "vat"). The operator places various bags containing powders of the chemical products required for the SSP formulation on a transport device (e.g., a conveyor belt). At the end of the transport, an empty crate is placed on a scale to receive the transported bags. The weight of each bag is verified and if the measured weight is correct, the crate with the bags is stored in a storage device (e.g., a storage rack or one or more automated storage systems).

It is therefore necessary to carry out in advance the very precise metering of the various products combined in the form of meltable pastes (see patent FR2698820B1 of the applicant). To make this combination, an internal mixer (or "IM") of the blade mixer type is heated. This type of mixer has various rotary actuators (e.g., blades, scrapers, etc.) that allow the mixer to disperse and dispense the various ingredients in the meltable paste in liquid form.

The continuous mixing allows the fusible paste to be combined with the other ingredients of the self-sealing elastomeric composition. Continuous mixers can be used to achieve the desired level of performance (and thus, the desired level of precision related to the composition) for the SSP product. Known continuous mixing processes typically employ a screw mixer effect. Several types of screw mixers are available, including single screw mixers, twin screw mixers, and multiple screw mixers, as well as variations involving different forms of screws (e.g., screws with interpenetrating and conjugate tooth profiles, screws with interpenetrating conjugate rotating tooth profiles comprising conjugate tooth profiles, etc.).

In a production line for producing rubber mixtures, the mixture leaving the continuous mixer may be subjected to a cooling treatment. There are several mixture cooling devices known to the person skilled in the art, in which the mixture is cooled by spray water and then dried using a drying system (for example, by means of drying nozzles and/or by means of fans).

In a rubber compound production line, the cooled mixture is conveyed to an end-of-line device where it is shaped for transport and storage. The end-of-line device comprises equipment for performing an end-of-line process that may be selected from boxing and palletizing, as well as storage of the cooled mixture. It should be appreciated that the equipment installed to perform the wire tail process may be combined with other wire tail equipment.

All the processes are independently operated. Thus, the present invention combines the advantages of various methods in a production line performing a production SSP process with the advantages of continuous mixing. Furthermore, the invention relates to adding cooling and forming processes and achieving continuous operation, starting from the method of producing meltable pastes up to the forming of SSP products. By combining these solutions together in variable combinations, even with particularly viscous mixtures such as SSP (the term "viscous" here defines the properties of the rubber mixture which vary according to the formulation of the mixture), improved mixing can be achieved in a reliable manner without loss of industrial productivity.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model relates to a production line of producing self sealss product with material that has self sealss elastomer composition, self sealss elastomer composition has predetermined formulation, a serial communication port, the production line includes:

-a device for forming a self-sealing product comprising:

-a loading station for collecting and conveying elastomer bricks meeting a predetermined recipe;

-a metering station, arranged downstream of the loading station, for introducing the raw materials required to create a predetermined formulation of the self-sealing product, said metering station comprising an elastomer metering system for introducing the elastomer, a resin metering system for injecting the liquid resin and a system for introducing

A system of liquid metering devices for the liquid plasticizer;

-a mixing station, arranged downstream of the metering station, comprising a continuous mixer into which the raw materials are introduced by a system of elastomer metering system, resin metering system and liquid metering device;

-a cooling station, arranged downstream of the mixing station, for cooling the strip of self-sealing product exiting the continuous mixer;

-a packaging station where hot melt films are applied above and below the cooled strips of self-sealing product; and

a palletization station, which allows the uniform distribution of the strip in the empty crates.

In some embodiments of the production line according to the present invention, the production line further comprises a device for molding a meltable paste, said device comprising:

-a supply station, wherein the components of the self-sealing product are introduced into a meltable paste device, said supply station comprising:

-at least one conveyor belt; and

-a weight-controlled scale, arranged at the end of the conveyor belt, allowing verification of self-sealing

The weight of the ingredients of the product;

-a storage station, arranged downstream of the supply station, comprising at least one storage device;

-one or more means for processing the composition between the supply station and the storage station; and

a mixing station with a blade mixer performing a mixing cycle for mixing the various ingredients in the form of fusible pastes;

so that the device for moulding the meltable paste produces a liquid paste for use by the device for moulding the self-sealing product.

In some embodiments of the production line according to the invention, the continuous mixing machine of the device for forming self-sealing products comprises a single-screw mixer.

In some embodiments of the production line according to the present invention, the mixing station of the device for forming a meltable paste comprises:

-an injection system for metering the liquid component introduced at the supply station directly into the blade mixer, the injection system comprising a barrel tilting device and an intermediate tank for heating the liquid component to achieve a desired viscosity of the liquid component; and

a weighing belt, which checks the quality of the liquid paste collected in one or more buckets, which are kept ready for use directly below the outlet of the blade mixer bottom.

In some embodiments of the production line according to the invention, the loading station of the device for forming self-sealing products comprises:

-a loading belt on which elastomer bricks complying with a predetermined formulation are placed to be introduced into the continuous mixer;

-a loading station for synthetic elastomer bricks, comprising means for arranging the synthetic elastomer bricks on a loading belt;

-a station for loading natural elastomer comprising means for arranging pieces of natural elastomer onto a loading belt; and

a robot comprising one or more compartments in which the synthetic and natural elastomers are housed, allowing the transport thereof to the metering station.

In some embodiments of the production line according to the invention, the cooling station comprises:

-a pump and a nozzle system for spraying water;

-a system of spiral perforated belts along which water is sprayed onto a strip of self-sealing product exiting the continuous mixer; and

-a screw-tip drying system that clears residual water present on the strip of self-sealing product.

In some embodiments of the production line according to the invention, the line end station comprises:

-a carriage with two conveyors for performing lateral and longitudinal movements to ensure movement over empty crates for filling them; and

-rotating the plate, wherein the filled crates are kept ready in the filling area of the line end station;

so that when the filled crate is full, the rotating plate is rotated 180 ° to place the empty crate in the filling zone and, during the rotation, the full crate is placed in the discharge zone of the line end station.

The present disclosure also relates to a method for producing a self-sealing product from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition having a predetermined formulation, said method being carried out by the disclosed production line, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

-a step of combining, for the preparation of a self-sealing product, a process of combining components in the form of fusible pastes, the step being performed by a device for forming the fusible pastes; and

-a production step, performed by the means for forming the self-sealing product, of carrying out a process for producing the self-sealing product according to a predetermined recipe containing the fusible paste obtained in the means for forming the fusible paste.

In some embodiments of the method according to the present disclosure, the process of combining the ingredients in the form of fusible pastes comprises the steps of:

-a step of introducing different components of a self-sealing product at a supply station, said step comprising the steps of:

-a conveying step during which the conveyor belt conveys the ingredients in powder form in pre-weighed hotmelt bags to a weight-controlling weigh scale arranged at the end of the conveyor belt;

a metering step during which the injection system meters the liquid component directly to

A blade mixer;

-a step of checking the weight of the bag, which is performed by a weight-controlled scale;

-a step of mixing the ingredients, carried out by means of a blade mixer, to obtain the different ingredients in the form of fusible pastes; and

a step of checking the mass of the liquid meltable paste discharged from the blade mixer, which is performed by a weighing belt.

In some embodiments of the method according to the present disclosure, the process of producing a self-sealing product comprises the steps of:

-a step of introducing into a continuous mixer the raw materials required to create a predetermined recipe, wherein said raw materials comprise a fusible paste obtained at a device for shaping the fusible paste;

-a step of mixing the raw materials, performed by a continuous mixer;

-a step of cooling the rubber product leaving the continuous mixer in the form of a strip, said step being performed by a cooling station;

-a step of packaging the strip leaving the continuous mixer, carried out by a packaging station, during which hot-melt films are applied above and below the strip; and

-a palletization step, performed by an end-of-line station, during which the carriage is moved transversely and longitudinally above the empty crates to fill them.

In some embodiments of the method according to the present disclosure, the process of producing a self-sealing product further comprises the steps of:

-a step of loading a synthetic elastomer and a natural elastomer, carried out at a loading station;

-a step of introducing a synthetic elastomer and a natural elastomer into a continuous mixer, performed by an elastomer metering system;

-a step of introducing the resin into a continuous mixer, performed by a resin metering system; and

-a step of introducing a liquid plasticizer into a continuous mixer, performed by a system of liquid metering devices, said step comprising introducing a meltable paste previously obtained at a device for shaping the meltable paste.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Drawings

The nature and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters identify like elements throughout, and in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an apparatus for molding a meltable paste material in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the apparatus for molding a fusible paste of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a device for forming self-sealing products according to the present invention of a production line.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of the device for forming self-sealing products of fig. 3.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements, fig. 1 to 4 collectively illustrate an embodiment of a production line that performs a process for producing a self-sealing product (or "SSP product" or "SSP") from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition, in accordance with the present invention. The production line is installed in a factory where SSP product is produced to be incorporated into a tire.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a production line according to the present invention includes an apparatus 100 for molding a fusible paste (or "fusible paste apparatus"). The fusible paste device 100 performs a process of combining different chemical products (or "ingredients") in the form of fusible pastes to produce the SSP. With reference to fig. 3 and 4, the production line according to the present invention also comprises a device 200 for shaping the SSP (or "SSP device"). The SSP plant 200 includes a continuous mixer so that the plant can perform the process of producing the SSP product according to a predetermined recipe including the fusible paste produced in the fusible paste plant 100.

Referring again to fig. 1 and 2, the fusible paste device 100 comprises a supply station 102 where the different components of the SSP are introduced into the fusible paste device. The ingredients of the SSP are generally in the form of powder bags (or "pouches") S, which are hot melt bags used in the formulation of self-sealing elastomeric compositions. The bags S arrive pre-weighed in a process carried out upstream of the supply station 102. It will be appreciated that these components may be in the form of a liquid contained in a drum or equivalent container (e.g., in what is known as a "vat"). In this case, the liquid is metered directly into a blade mixer 106a arranged at a mixing station 106 (described below) downstream of the supply station 102.

The supply station 102 comprises at least one conveyor belt 102a on which the bags S are placed by the operator. The conveyor belt 102a conveys the bags S to a storage station 104 of the fusible paste device 100 arranged downstream of the supply station 102. As used herein, "operator" refers to only one operator (e.g., a single member of a team) or to a group of operators. The operator includes, but is not limited to, one or more devices associated with an individual or team participating in the supply of the fusible paste device 100. The operator may be a person who assists in supplying the fusible paste device 100 in a physical or digital manner (e.g., by directly managing the supply remotely so as to view the production line in real time). As used herein, an "operator" may also refer to any electronic device or system configured to receive control inputs and configured to automatically transmit data to at least one other operator.

The supply station 102 also includes one or more weight control scales (or "scales") 102b disposed at the end of the conveyor belt 102 a. To optimize their storage, their collection and their delivery to the storage station 104, the bags S are contained in empty crates C placed on a scale 102b in order to verify the weight of the bags. If the measured weight is correct, the crate C with bags S is stored in the storage station 104 (e.g., in storage device 104 a). Storage station 104 may include a plurality of storage devices 104a, which include automated storage systems (e.g., "automated Access systems" or "ASRS" and equivalents thereof). It will be appreciated that the storage device 104a is used to meet the flow requirements of the production method being performed by the production line.

The fusible paste device 100 also includes one or more devices for handling the crates C between the supply station 102 and the storage station 104. Referring again to fig. 1 and 2, such an apparatus is represented by robot 105, which may be a stationary robot or a mobile robot. The term "mobile" is understood to mean that the robot 105 may be moved by integrated moving means (e.g., one or more integrated motors) or by non-integrated moving means (e.g., one or more robotic moving carriages or other equivalent moving means). It will be appreciated that the robot 105 may be attached to a floor, ceiling, wall, or any support that allows a complete crate C to be placed into the storage device 104 a. The production cycle may begin when all raw materials needed to produce the SSP are stored in the storage device 104 a.

Referring again to fig. 1 and 2, the fusible paste device 100 also includes a mixing station 106. The mixing station 106 comprises a blade mixer 106a which performs a mixing cycle to obtain the different ingredients in the form of fusible pastes (for example, a mixer of the type disclosed in patent FR2698820B1 of the applicant mentioned above). According to the pre-defined recipe for SSP, the robot 105 removes the crate C containing the bags S and pours them into the blade mixer 106a. The temperature and speed of the blade mixer 106a follow settings established in a predetermined recipe as a function of time (e.g., temperature is adjusted by the thermal adjustment station 106b of the mixing station 106). When the blade mixer 106b finishes the mixing cycle, a pilot valve (not shown) is opened to allow the liquid paste to be discharged from the mixer by flowing under gravity to the outlet 106a' at the bottom of the blade mixer.

The mixing station 106 also comprises a system 106c for injecting the ingredients in the form of a conditioning liquid. These are introduced at the supply station 102 of the fusible paste device 100 (see description above). The ingredients may include one or more liquid plasticizers and/or other chemical products (collectively, "liquid ingredients") that are metered directly into the blade mixer 106a. To use the liquid composition, the injection system 106c consists of a tilter for the barrel and an intermediate tank (not shown). By gravity, the liquid composition flows from the vat to an intermediate tank that is thermally conditioned (e.g., by thermal conditioning station 106b of mixing station 106), so that the liquid composition can be heated to achieve a desired viscosity. At the outlet of the intermediate tank, a pump (gear pump or other pump) (not shown) delivers the liquid ingredients to the blade mixer 106a.

The mixing station 106 also includes a weigh belt 106d on which one or more buckets F are kept in reserve, just below the outlet 106a' of the blade mixer 106a. The weighing belt 106d checks the quality of the liquid paste collected in the tub F. If the quality is correct, the weigh belt 106d transports the buckets to a discharge station (not shown) for use in downstream processes performed at the SSP apparatus 200.

Referring again to fig. 3 and 4, the SSP plant 200 of the production line in accordance with the present invention includes a continuous mixer 206a to produce SSP in accordance with a predetermined recipe. In a preferred embodiment, the continuous mixer 206a comprises a single screw mixer. It will be appreciated that other embodiments of the continuous mixer 206a (e.g., a twin screw or multi-screw mixer) may be used.

Mixing involves introducing the different raw materials required for the production of SSP into the continuous mixer 206a. The raw materials introduced into the continuous mixer include, but are not limited to, one or more elastomeric materials (e.g., natural rubber, synthetic elastomers, combinations thereof, and equivalents thereof) and one or more ingredients such as one or more processing aids, protectants, and reinforcing fillers. The raw materials may also include one or more other ingredients such as oils and resins. All raw materials are introduced into the continuous mixer in variable and precise quantities to obtain the desired SSP. Therefore, in order to comply with a predetermined recipe, it is necessary to meter each raw material into the continuous mixer regularly and uniformly.

SSP plant 200 includes a loading station 202 at which elastomer bricks (or "rubber bricks" or "bricks") P are collected for blending. The loading station 202 comprises a loading belt 202a on which elastomer bricks P having the desired characteristics are placed to be introduced into a continuous mixing station 206 arranged downstream of the loading station. The bricks P can be collected from one or more crates C' filled with bricks conforming to a predetermined recipe. Each crate C' may be collected with bricks P from known storage devices (e.g., from storage devices of the type shown and described with respect to storage station 104 in fig. 1 and 2).

The loading station 202 also comprises a station 202b for loading synthetic elastomer bricks (or "synthetic station") and a station 202c for loading natural elastomers (or "natural station"), which make it possible to transfer different elastomers of a predetermined formulation to the metering system. For synthetic elastomers, the synthesis station 202b comprises means (not shown) for removing the brick P from the crate C' and placing it on the loading belt 202a (for example, claw grippers). At the end of the loading belt 202a, the compositing station 202b also includes a known tipping device (not shown) that drops the bricks into one of the boxes 202d' of the robot 202d of the loading station 202. The robot 202d preferably comprises a "cartesian" type robot that allows its movement to be managed relative to the load belt 202 a.

For natural elastomers, they are usually supplied in the form of chips. The natural station 202c includes means (e.g., known means for turning crates) that allow debris to be discharged from above a shredder (not shown). The debris stored in the crate tends to form a compact mass that is difficult to meter. The shredder breaks up these elastomeric pieces so that the pieces fall onto the loading belt 202 a. As in the case of the synthetic elastomer, at the end of the loading belt 202a, pieces of natural elastomer fall into the box 202d' of the robot 202d that have not been occupied by the synthetic elastomer. When all of the boxes 202d' of the robot 202d are full, the robot delivers all of the elastomer to a downstream metering system.

SSP plant 200 also includes metering station 204 having elastomer metering system 204a, resin metering system 204b, and system 204c of liquid metering devices. The elastomer metering system 204a uses a screw and piston extruder system to introduce the elastomer into a continuous mixer 206a disposed at a continuous mixing station 206 downstream of the metering station 204. The elastomer metering system 204a is thermally regulated (e.g., temperature regulated by thermal regulation station 205 of SSP plant 200) (see fig. 3), so that a reasonable regularity in the metering of the elastomer and the viscosity level of the elastomer introduced into the continuous mixer 206a can be ensured.

After the elastomer is introduced, the resin is introduced into a continuous mixer 206a. Such commercial resins are contained in bags (or "big bags") of different sizes. As used herein, the term "resin" refers to a mixture that is a solid at ambient temperature (about 23 ℃) rather than a liquid plasticizing compound such as an oil. It is well known that resins, such as hydrocarbon resins, can be used as plasticizers or tackifiers in a polymer matrix.

To use the resin, a bag of resin is placed by a hoist (or by equivalent means) over a commercially known evacuation station (not shown). The evacuation station allows the bag of resin to be opened and the resin poured by gravity into the resin metering system 204b. The resin is injected in liquid form into the continuous mixer 206a by means of the resin metering device 204b' of the resin metering system 204b. The resin metering device 204b' consists of an extruder combined with a gear pump, the entire resin metering system 204b being regulated at a relatively high temperature to allow the resin to be melted and metered under pressure into the continuous mixer 206a.

Introducing the raw materials into the continuous mixer 206a also includes introducing liquid plasticizer contained in barrels (or "vats") of different sizes. To use them, the system 204c of liquid metering devices of the metering device 204 includes a tipping device for the barrel and a tundish (not shown) of the type described above in connection with the injection system 106c of the meltable paste device 100. The liquid plasticizer flows from the vat by gravity to a thermally regulated intermediate tank so that the liquid composition can be heated to a desired viscosity. At the outlet of the intermediate tank, a pump (gear pump or other pump) (not shown) delivers the liquid plasticizer to at least one liquid plasticizer metering device of a system 204c of liquid metering devices dedicated to metering the liquid plasticizer to the continuous mixer 206a.

Referring again to fig. 3 and 4, the system 204c of the liquid metering device includes a known vat vacuum system (not shown) that allows retrieval of the fusible paste previously prepared at the fusible paste system 100. To introduce the chemicals into the continuous mixer 206a, the barrel vacuum system includes a head that descends into a barrel containing the liquid meltable paste. The head is heated to return the meltable paste to a liquid state before a pump contained in the head delivers the liquid to at least one meltable paste metering device of the system 204c dedicated to delivering the meltable paste to the liquid metering device of the continuous mixer 206a.

At system 204c of the liquid metering device, a piston pump (not shown) is used to meter the liquid plasticizer as well as the pre-produced fusible paste. In order to obtain a sufficiently low viscosity to allow regular metering, these pumps are also heated to obtain a low viscosity. The low viscosity obtained also enables these liquid products to be incorporated and homogenized in the continuous mixer 206a.

SSP apparatus 200 further includes a mixing station 206 in which a continuous mixer 206a is installed. When all the ingredients are added to the continuous mixer 206a, the continuous mixer 206a disperses and homogenizes all the ingredients of the predetermined formulation of SSP by means of its screws and barrels. Each portion of the rubber product exiting the continuous mixer 206a contains different raw materials in proportions according to a predetermined recipe. Moreover, the shear provided by the continuous mixer 206a (more specifically, by the rotation of the screw and by the small air gap with the barrel of the continuous mixer) ensures that a homogeneous product is obtained without heterogenous regions, and with the viscosity required for SSP to achieve its intended self-sealing use in the tyre.

The rubber product leaves the continuous mixer 206a in the form of a strip or layer that requires fairly rapid cooling, as it is already added to the vulcanization system. If it were to remain at high temperatures for a long time, such a vulcanization system would be consumed and no longer perform its function in downstream processes.

Thus, the SSP plant also includes a cooling station 208 disposed downstream of the continuous mixer 206a. To cool the ribbon exiting the continuous mixer 206a, the cooling station 208 includes a pump and a nozzle system (or "jetting system") 208a that jets water. Water is used in a closed loop so that it drips into a collection container (not shown) before being pumped by a pump (not shown). To benefit from the longer cooling length, a spiral perforated belt system 208b is used. Along the belt, water is sprayed onto the ribbon exiting the continuous mixer 206a. At the end of the spiral, the drying system 208c of the cooling station 208 removes the residual water present on the strip. As understood by those skilled in the art, the drying system may include a turbine and a blow nozzle 208c'.

Once the water is removed, the resulting tape becomes very viscous. To be able to continue processing it, SSP plant 200 includes a wrapping station 210 at which hot melt film is applied above and below the viscous strip. The film enters the SSP composition and is melted and homogenized in the downstream process in the SSP. The film comprises a film having a melting point higher than the temperature of the SSP product exiting the spiral perforated belt 208b of the cooling station 208. The packaging station 210 may comprise a film coating apparatus as disclosed in the applicant's publication WO 2011/113712.

The strip containing the hot melt film is then conveyed by conveyor belt 211 to the end of line station 212 of the SSP plant, which allows the strip to be evenly distributed in the empty crate C ". The end station 212 may include a carriage 212a having two motor-driven conveyors. The carriage moves laterally and longitudinally over the empty crate C ". The film covered strip arrives between two motor driven conveyor belts which ensure that the strip moves in the vertical direction while the carriage 212a performs lateral and longitudinal movements. By means of these movements, the strips are evenly distributed in the underlying crate C ". It will be appreciated that the crate C "may be replaced by a pallet or other equivalent means of more easily transporting and storing the strips.

During the filling process, the crate C "may be mounted on a rotating plate (not shown) that is ready in the filling area of the line end station 212. When the filled crate is full, the rotating plate is rotated 180 ° to place the empty crate in the filling area. During the rotation, the full crate is placed in the discharge area of the line tail station 212, so that the operator (or any other automated system) unloads the full crate and introduces the ready empty crate.

The loop of the method of mixing SSP products can be performed under PLC control and can include preprogrammed administration information. For example, the settings of the method for producing the SSP product can be correlated to the material introduced to the blade mixer 106a, the material introduced to the continuous mixer 206a (including the characteristics of the screw of the continuous mixer), the characteristics of the liquid paste entering the continuous mixer 206a, and the characteristics of the ribbon exiting the continuous mixer 206a.

For all embodiments, a monitoring system may be installed. For example, a monitoring system may be associated with each metering station 204 (as well as each of the elastomer metering system 204a, the resin metering system 204b, and the system of liquid metering devices 204 c) to ensure that precise quantities of different raw materials are introduced into the continuous mixer 206a. The monitoring system makes it possible to check whether the SSP product is within a given deviation from its predetermined recipe. In the case of a deviation, the continuous mixer 206a can be stopped and the SSP declared non-qualified to avoid loss of material and time.

At least a portion of the monitoring system may be disposed in a portable device such as a mobile network device (e.g., a mobile phone, a laptop, one or more portable devices connected to a network (including "augmented reality" and/or "virtual reality" devices, wearable garments connected to a network, and/or any combination and/or all equivalents)). In embodiments of the present invention, the production line (and/or the plant containing the production line) may receive voice commands or other audio data indicative of, for example, the start or stop of screw rotation of the continuous mixer 206a. The command may include a request for a current state of a cycle of the hybrid process. The generated response may be represented audibly, visually, haptically (e.g., using a haptic interface), and/or using virtual reality or augmented reality.

In one embodiment, the method of mixing SSP products can include the step of training the production line (or the plant containing the production line) to identify and compare values representative of the liquid paste exiting the blade mixer 106a and/or values representative of the ribbon exiting the continuous mixer 206a (e.g., temperature and viscosity values). This step may include the step of training the fusible paste device 100 and SSP device 200 to identify the lack of any equivalence between the compared values. Each training step comprises a classification generated by the self-learning means. The classifications may include, but are not limited to, parameters of the raw materials and intermediate mixtures, the configuration of the screws of the continuous mixer 206a, the duration of the production process cycle, and the expected value at the end of the ongoing cycle. It is envisaged that the detecting and comparing steps are performed iteratively in order to achieve such training. In an embodiment of the method according to the present disclosure, the obtained data may supply one or more neural networks that manage the production line of the present invention and/or one or more plants comprising the production line of the present invention.

The terms "at least one" and "one or more" may be used interchangeably. Ranges denoted as "between a and b" include the values "a" and "b".

While particular embodiments of the disclosed apparatus have been shown and described, it will be understood that various changes, additions and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, no limitation should be imposed on the scope of the described invention, other than that set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A production line for producing a self-sealing product from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition having a predetermined formulation, characterized in that it comprises:

-a device (200) for forming a self-sealing product comprising:

-a loading station (202) for collecting and conveying elastomer bricks (P) satisfying a predetermined formulation;

-a metering station (204) arranged downstream of the loading station (202) for introducing the raw materials required to create a predetermined formulation of the self-sealing product, the metering station (204) comprising an elastomer metering system (204 a) for introducing the elastomer, a resin metering system (204 b) for injecting the liquid resin and a system (204 c) of liquid metering devices for introducing the liquid plasticizer;

-a mixing station (206), arranged downstream of the metering station (204), comprising a continuous mixer (206 a) into which the raw materials are introduced by means of a system (204 c) of elastomer metering systems (204 a), resin metering systems (204 b) and liquid metering devices;

-a cooling station (208) arranged downstream of the mixing station (206) for cooling the strip of self-sealing product exiting the continuous mixer (206 a);

-a packaging station (210) where hot melt films are applied above and below the cooled strip of self-sealing product; and

-a palletization station able to distribute the strip evenly in the empty crates (C ").

2. Production line of self-sealing products from a material with self-sealing elastomeric composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a device (100) for moulding a meltable paste, said device comprising:

-a supply station (102) in which a composition of the self-sealing product is introduced into the meltable paste device, the supply station (102) comprising:

-at least one conveyor belt (102 a); and

-a weight-controlled scale (102 b) arranged at the end of the conveyor belt (102 a) for verifying the weight of the composition of the self-sealing product;

-a storage station (104), arranged downstream of the supply station (102), comprising at least one storage device (104 a);

-one or more devices (105) for processing the composition between the supply station (102) and the storage station (104); and

-a mixing station (106) comprising a blade mixer (106 a) performing a mixing cycle for mixing the various ingredients in the form of fusible pastes;

so that the device (100) for forming the meltable paste produces a liquid paste for use by the device (200) for forming the self-sealing product.

3. Production line for producing self-sealing products from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the continuous mixer (206 a) of the device (200) for forming self-sealing products comprises a single-screw mixer.

4. Production line of self-sealing products from materials with self-sealing elastomeric composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the mixing station (106) of the device (100) for forming a fusible paste comprises:

-an injection system (106 c) directly metering the liquid component introduced at the supply station (102) into the blade mixer (106 a), the injection system comprising a tilting device for the tub and an intermediate tank for heating the liquid component to achieve a desired viscosity of the liquid component; and

-a weighing belt (106 d) which checks the mass of the liquid paste collected in one or more buckets (F) which are ready directly below the outlet (106 a') at the bottom of the blade mixer (106 a).

5. Production line for producing self-sealing products from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the loading station (202) of the device (200) for forming self-sealing products comprises:

-a loading belt (202 a) on which elastomer bricks complying with a predetermined formulation are placed to be introduced into a continuous mixer (206);

-a loading station (202 b) for synthetic elastomer bricks, comprising means for placing the synthetic elastomer bricks (P) on a loading belt (202 a);

-a station (202 c) for loading natural elastomer comprising means for dispensing pieces of natural elastomer onto a loading belt (202 a); and

-a robot (202 d) comprising one or more boxes (202 d') into which synthetic and natural elastomers are loaded, enabling transport of the synthetic and natural elastomers to a metering station (204).

6. Production line of self-sealing products from materials with self-sealing elastomeric compositions according to claim 1, characterized in that said cooling station (208) comprises:

-a pump and a nozzle system (208 a) for spraying water;

-a system of spiral perforated belts (208 b) along the length of which water is sprayed onto a strip of self-sealing product exiting the continuous mixer (206 a); and

-a screw-tip drying system (208 c) that removes residual water present on the strip of self-sealing product.

7. Production line for producing self-sealing products from a material having a self-sealing elastomeric composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an end-of-line station (212) comprising:

-a carriage (212 a) with two conveyors for performing lateral and longitudinal movements to ensure movement over empty crates (C ") to fill them; and

-a rotating plate, wherein the filled crates are kept in a filling area of a line end station (212) for standby;

such that when the filled crate is full, the rotating plate is rotated 180 ° to place an empty crate in the filling zone and, during the rotation, the full crate is placed in the discharge zone of the line end station (212).

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