Shrink conveyor and method for allowing shrink in a continuous strip

{
  "publication_number": "US12428252B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Shrink conveyor and method for allowing shrink in a continuous strip",
  "abstract": "A shrink conveyor and a method are provided for allowing shrink in a continuous strip. The shrink conveyor comprises a plurality of rollers, a frame that defines a plurality of roller positions, and a first drive member for driving the plurality of rollers. Each roller of the plurality of rollers comprises a first driven part that has a first drive profile that tapers. The first drive member is arranged for rotating the plurality of rollers through contact with the first driven parts at a rotation speed in a transmission ratio to the speed of the first drive member in such a way that the first drive member contacts the first driven part of each roller of the at least three rollers at a different diameter for each roller.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A shrink conveyor for allowing shrink in a continuous strip, the shrink conveyor comprising: a plurality of rollers; a frame that defines a plurality of roller positions fixed and spaced apart in a transport direction for holding the plurality of rollers in a mutually parallel orientation perpendicular to said transport direction; and a first drive member for driving the plurality of rollers, wherein each roller of the plurality of rollers comprises a roller body that is rotatable about a roller axis extending in an axial direction and a first driven part connected to said roller body coaxially to the roller axis, wherein the first driven part in a cross section parallel to the axial direction has a first drive profile, wherein the first drive profile for at least three rollers of the plurality of rollers tapers at a taper rate that is different for each roller of the at least three rollers, wherein the first drive member is arranged for rotating the plurality of rollers through contact with said first driven parts at a rotation speed in a transmission ratio to a speed of the first drive member that is defined by a diameter of the first driven part at a contact position of the first drive member along the respective first drive profiles, wherein the first drive member is movable with at least a vector component in a lateral direction parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of rollers in such a way that the first drive member contacts the first driven part of each roller of the at least three rollers at a different diameter for each roller.",
    "2. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first drive profiles for the at least three rollers differ in that each first drive profile tapers at a different taper angle relative to the respective roller axis.",
    "3. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first driven part is at least partially conical, wherein the first driven parts of the at least three rollers have different conicities.",
    "4. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the taper rate increases or decreases for each subsequent roller of the at least three rollers in the transport direction.",
    "5. The shrink conveyor according to claim 4, wherein the taper rate increases or decreases for each subsequent roller of the at least three rollers at least partially linearly.",
    "6. The shrink conveyor according to claim 4, wherein the taper rate increases or decreases for each subsequent roller of the at least three rollers at least partially non-linearly.",
    "7. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first drive profile for one or more rollers of the plurality of rollers downstream of the at least three rollers in the transport direction is cylindrical.",
    "8. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first drive profile tapers differently for each roller of at least half of the plurality of rollers.",
    "9. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first drive member is configured to remain parallel to the transport direction during said movement in the lateral direction.",
    "10. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the first drive member comprises an endless belt.",
    "11. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein each roller of the at least three rollers comprise a second driven part connected to the roller body coaxially to the roller axis, wherein the second driven part in a cross section parallel to the axial direction has a second drive profile, wherein the second drive profile for the at least three rollers of the plurality of rollers tapers.",
    "12. The shrink conveyor according to claim 11, wherein the taper rate of the second drive profile is the same as the taper rate of the first drive profile of the same roller for each roller of the at least three rollers.",
    "13. The shrink conveyor according to claim 11, wherein the second drive profile is mirror symmetrical to the first drive profile of the same roller for each roller of the at least three rollers.",
    "14. The shrink conveyor according to claim 11, wherein the second drive profile tapers in the same direction as the first drive profiles.",
    "15. The shrink conveyor according to claim 11, wherein the first driven part and the second driven part are connected to the roller body at opposite ends of said roller body in the axial direction.",
    "16. The shrink conveyor according to claim 11, wherein the shrink conveyor further comprises a second drive member for contacting the second driven parts of the plurality of rollers and rotating the plurality of rollers through said contact with said second driven parts.",
    "17. The shrink conveyor according to claim 16, wherein the second drive member is movable with at least a vector component in the lateral direction.",
    "18. The shrink conveyor according to claim 17, wherein the first drive member and the second drive member are configured to remain mutually parallel during said movement in the lateral direction.",
    "19. The shrink conveyor according to claim 16, wherein the first drive member and the second drive member are mechanically coupled to move symmetrically in the lateral direction.",
    "20. The shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of roller positions is greater in number than the plurality of rollers.",
    "21. A method for allowing shrink in a continuous strip with the use of a shrink conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning the at least three rollers in an equal number of roller positions of the plurality of roller positions; moving the first drive member with at least a vector component in the lateral direction to vary the transmission ratio for the at least three roller; and rotating the at least three rollers at different rotation speeds in accordance with the varied transmission ratio between the respective rollers and the first drive member.",
    "22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least three rollers are positioned in equal number of roller positions such that the taper rate increases or decreases for each subsequent roller of the at least three rollers in the transport direction.",
    "23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the taper rate increases or decreases for each subsequent roller of the at least three rollers at least partially linearly.",
    "24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the taper rate increases or decreases for each subsequent roller of the at least three rollers at least partially non-linearly.",
    "25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises the step of keeping the first drive member parallel to the transport direction during said movement in the lateral direction.",
    "26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least three rollers are positioned in an equal number of roller positions of the plurality of rollers positions which are evenly spaced apart in the transport direction.",
    "27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least three rollers are positioned in an equal number of roller positions of the plurality of rollers positions which are unevenly spaced apart in the transport direction.",
    "28. A shrink conveyor for allowing shrink in a continuous strip, the shrink conveyor comprising: a plurality of rollers; a frame that defines a plurality of roller positions fixed and spaced apart in a transport direction for holding the plurality of rollers in a mutually parallel orientation perpendicular to said transport direction; and a first drive member for driving the plurality of rollers, wherein each roller of the plurality of rollers comprises a roller body that is rotatable about a roller axis extending in an axial direction and a first driven part connected to said roller body coaxially to the roller axis, wherein the first driven part in a cross section parallel to the axial direction has a first drive profile, wherein the first drive profile for at least three rollers of the plurality of rollers tapers at a taper rate, wherein the first drive member is arranged for rotating the plurality of rollers through contact with said first driven parts at a rotation speed in a transmission ratio to a speed of the first drive member that is defined by a diameter of the first driven part at a contact position of the first drive member along the respective first drive profiles, wherein the first drive member is movable with at least a vector component in a lateral direction parallel to the axial direction of the plurality of rollers in such a way that the first drive member contacts the first driven part of each roller of the at least three rollers at a different diameter for each roller, wherein each roller of the at least three rollers comprise a second driven part connected to the roller body coaxially to the roller axis, wherein the second driven part in a cross section parallel to the axial direction has a second drive profile, wherein the second drive profile for the at least three rollers of the plurality of rollers tapers."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to a shrink conveyor and a method for allowing shrink in a continuous strip, in particular a tire component for tire building.\n\nWhen a tire component, in particular a continuous strip or an apex, is extruded, the tire component cools down and needs to be able to contract to allow for the elastomeric material of the tire component to relax.\n\nFIG. 10 shows a known shrink conveyor with three shrink sections arranged consecutively in a transport direction along a transport path for a tire component. Each shrink section comprises a group of rollers and a drive belt for rotating the rollers within the group at a constant speed. For each subsequent shrink section in the transport direction, the group of rollers is driven at a speed lower than the previous shrink section to allow the tire component supported thereon to contract.\n\nA disadvantage of the known shrink conveyor is that the speed of the rollers does not gradually decrease with each roller. Instead, the speed is reduced in three stages corresponding to the three shrink sections, with an abrupt speed difference at each transition from one stage to the next. This may result in a sub-optimal relaxation of the elastomeric material of the tire component. More in particular, there may be inconsistencies, deformations and/or residual stress in the tire component after it leaves the known shrink conveyor.\n\nJPH 09109226 A discloses a variable conveying apparatus with a plurality of rollers which are pulled along an endless chain running along a head pulley, a tail pulley and one or more intermediate pulleys.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65H 20/02",
    "B29C 48/0018",
    "B29C 48/355",
    "B65G 13/071",
    "B65G 39/02",
    "B65G 39/12",
    "B65H 2301/44324",
    "B65H 2404/1312",
    "B65H 2404/16",
    "B65H 2801/93"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B29C 48/00",
    "B29C 48/355",
    "B65H 20/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "VMI Holland BV"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Willem Marinus Van Beek"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-08-29",
  "publication_date": "2025-09-30",
  "grant_date": "2025-09-30",
  "priority_date": "2021-09-10",
  "application_number": "US-202218690422-A",
  "family_id": "78212591",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "GB1254103A",
    "US5417157A",
    "KR200210416Y1",
    "JPH09109226A",
    "JP2001151345A",
    "DE102009030533A1",
    "US20110089002A1",
    "US20190218036A1",
    "US10392192B2",
    "JP2019194124A",
    "US11008169B2",
    "JP6962953B2",
    "US10081492B1"
  ]
}