The invention relates to an unloading device for unloading a cured tyre from a tyre vulcanizer.
Background of the Invention
A tyre curing press or vulcanizer has in its construction the capability to cure different sizes of tyres. An uncured tyre, or green tyre, is loaded in special moulds where all patterns and side wall branding of the tyre occurs during a process of curing inside the tyre curing press to obtain a cured tyre. The cured tyre is then removed using a tyre unloader apparatus, from the confines of the mould of the tyre curing press for the next cycle of curing to start.
The tyre unloader is an apparatus customarily used with tyre curing presses that aids in the process of removal of cured tyre from a tyre curing press/vulcanizer. The cured tyre is comprised of three major parts, namely the bead, the sidewall and the tread. Different sizes of tyres have different bead sizes.
The tyre unloader removes the tyre from tyre mould, where some portion of the tyre may still be in contact with the mould, which has to be stripped off, which can offer significant amount of reaction load to the unloading structure. The tyre thus removed may be immediately

transferred to the conveyor so as to prevent the impression marks made by rollers on the tyres due to its inherent weight, more particularly in heavy weight tyres. The tyre delivered onto the post processing conveyor may stay there for one or more curing cycles so as to cool down completely and the tyre won’t be deformed by subsequent handling of the same. It is also important not to permit the tyre to move too fast or to stop too suddenly since it may then get away from the unloader mechanism, or, due to impact, the impression of the tyre stopper may be imparted onto the tyre surface
Previously used unloading devices for removing tyres from a curing press mould served both for loading green tyres into the mould, and for withdrawing the finished tyres as well. These devices were, in substance, manually operated manipulators. Manipulation of the tyres was done in concurrence with the operation of the curing press, and, therefore, there was a poor level of work safety. To address these safety problems single-purpose devices were introduced which were located in a rear section of the curing press, and, consequently, were out of the operator's reach. These manipulation devices form a separate system group of the press that is completed with an inclined chute for moving the finished tyres away from the mould. The formed and cured tyre is supported by the manipulation device and transported onto the inclined chute, along which the tyre moves out of the reach of the curing press. These devices, that provide an increased level of the work safety, are complex and demanding both for a manufacture, adjustment, and subsequent control as well. They also have a high failure rate which causes outages and subsequent reductions in productivity.

In other prior art machines, in order to unload a tyre, a generally horizontal removal arm is moved under the bottom of the tyre and then elevated to remove the tyre from the bladder. The usual way completing the removal of the tyre is to pivot backwards the removal arm. In this case, the tyre slides downwards on the arm so as to rest on a roller conveyor and is advanced towards the next step, i.e., the post inflator.
In other unloading device, chutes are used for removal of tyres. The finished tyre is lifted over the bladder upper ring of the mould and gradually put down onto the roller chute behind the press. For the manipulation of the finished tyre, the chute runs behind the press out of the way of the operator, improving the work safety. However, adjustment of the withdrawing equipment is rather demanding and often requires intervention of an operator. Improper adjustment, can cause damage to the mould such as a thrown piston rod of the main bladder ring. In addition, the chute is positioned at a constant height and can cause damage to occur due to release of the finished tyre from a greater height than desired due to improper adjustment.
In addition, when the unloader arms are tilted the tyre is pressed against the arm rollers and the tyre stopper, thus creating impression marks on the cured tyre.
Thus, keeping in view the existing unloader in tyre curing press as mentioned above, there is a need to provide an stand-alone unloading device that has a simple mechanism, which can eliminate the titling arrangement of the arms and the tyre stopper, thus preventing impressions on the cured tyre.

Also, there exists a need to avoid changing the horizontal orientation of the tyre as it exists the vulcanizer until it reaches the post curing stage and maintaining the concentricity and parallelism during the unloading process.
Brief Summary of the Invention
The present disclosure provides an unloader for unloading tyres from a vulcanizer and has an object of providing a simplified unloading device that is capable of transferring the cured tyre from the vulcanizer to the post curing stage without changing the orientation of the tyre thereby maintaining the concentricity and parallelism during the unloading process.
The present disclosure also provides an unloader that also functions as a stationary cooling station for the unloaded tyre before being conveyed to a post curing stage.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the unloader for unloading tyres from a vulcanizer comprises support arms for engaging under a tyre to be unloaded from the vulcanizer, characterized in that each support arm has a conveyor system integrally mounted thereon to enable the support arms to receive and pull out the tyre from the vulcanizer, such that the tyre is unloaded and moved from the vulcanizer to a further conveyor for post curing whilst continuously disposing the tyre in a generally horizontal position.

In a second embodiment the support arms are mounted on a carriage, said carriage capable of being guided laterally on a slide frame. The support arms mounted on the carriage are capable of being guided towards and away from the vulcanizer by means of guide rails provided on the slide frame.
In a third embodiment, the conveyor system integrally mounted on the support arms is a belt-type conveyor system wherein the belt is driven in a travel direction away from the vulcanizer.
In a fourth embodiment, the belt-type conveyor system is capable of being stopped to allow the support arms to function as a stationary cooling station for the unloaded tyre before being conveyed to a post curing stage.
In a fifth embodiment, the support arms include two arms provided at an adjustable distance from each other and mounted on respective guide rods, wherein the distance between the two arms is capable of being adjusted based on a bead diameter of the tyre. The distance between the two arms is adjusted using, for instance, a power screw mechanism.
In a sixth embodiment, the unloader comprises a base frame firmly mounted on a floor surface, wherein the slide frame is mounted on connecting rods which extend from the base frame, wherein the length of said connecting rods is adjustable to move the slide frame in a direction perpendicular to the lateral movement of the carriage.

In a seventh embodiment, the respective conveyor system provided on each arm is driven by a common actuator and a common drive shaft.
In an eighth embodiment the unloader is a stand-alone device 5 connectable with the vulcanizer by means of an integration link.
Effects of the Invention
According to the first embodiment, since the support arms receives, pulls out and moves the tyre from the vulcanizer to a further
10 conveyor for post curing whilst continuously disposing the tyre in a generally horizontal position, the unloader has a simplified construction that utilizes only support arms with integral conveyor systems, and avoids use of additional tyre stripping elements, tilting mechanism, rollers, or tyre stoppers thereby maintaining the
15 concentricity and parallelism during the unloading process and renders the cured tyre to be free of roller impressions.
According to the second embodiment, the support arms mounted on the carriage are capable of being guided towards and away from the vulcanizer on guide rails, thereby maintaining concentricity and 20 parallelism at any given point of time.
According to the third embodiment, since the belt of the belt-type conveyor system is driven in a travel direction away from the vulcanizer, the movement of the tyre is made unidirectional thereby maintaining a smooth travel of the tyre towards the post curing stage.

According to the fourth embodiment, the support arms function as a cooling station thereby providing cooling space and time especially when the unloader is used in a compact layout requiring an additional space for cooling of the cured tyre before it reaches the post curing stage.
According to the fifth embodiment, the distance between the support arms is adjustable so as to accommodate tyres with different bead diameters.
According to the sixth embodiment, the unloader is constructed rigidly to ensure only lateral and longitudinal movements of the components of the unloader so as to ensure simple and consistent orientation of the unloader with/without the cured tyre.
According to the seventh embodiment, a common actuator and drive shaft ensures that both the support arms are moving at the speed and direction at any given instant thereby ensuring that the cured tyre does not experience irregular or unstable movements.
According to the eighth embodiment, the unloader is a stand¬alone device that is rigidly floor mounted and capable of being removable connected to the vulcanizer.
The embodiments of the invention will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures,

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the unloader of the present invention together with a tyre curing press/vulcanizer;
Figure 2 shows the various elements of the unloader according to this invention;
Figure 3a and 3b show the direction of movement of the unloader components according to this invention;
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the unloader where the press is open and the tyre is stripped off from the lower mould of the vulcanizer;
Figure 5 shows the unloader sliding in and receiving and holding the cured tyre from the vulcanizer;
Figure 6 shows the unloader being lifted up to overcome top bladder clamp ring;
Figure 7 shows the unloader with tyre moving out of the vulcanizer in the direction of the conveyor travel; and
Figure 8 shows the unloader moving downwards with the tyre.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to Figure 1, the unloader (1) according to the invention is floor mounted for better rigidity. The unloader (1) is a stand-alone apparatus capable of being connected to a tyre curing press/vulcanizer (2) through an integration link (3). Tyre vulcanizer (2) includes moulds that vulcanizes and moulds a green tyre where all patterns and side

wall branding of the tyre (T) are formed by a heating process. Generally, the mould of the tyre vulcanizer includes a two-piece mould divided into an upper mould and a lower mould. The upper mould and lower mould of the two-piece mould are held, respectively, on mounting members (2a, 2b), and opening and closing of the mould can be performed by lifting the upper mould mounting member (2a) in a vertical direction relative to the lower mould mounting member (2b). The tyre vulcanizer (2) also includes a bladder (not shown), and a structure (not shown) for supplying a heating and pressurization medium to an internal space of the bladder. The bladder is fitted along an inner surface of the tyre, and the heating and pressurization medium is introduced to an interior of the bladder. The mould and the bladder heats and pressurizes the tyre (T). By this tyre vulcanizing method, a tread pattern of the tyre (T) is formed.
The cured tyre (T) is now required to be removed from the vulcanizer (2) and conveyed to a post curing stage, typically to a post-curing inflator (PCI) where the cured tyre is cooled and hardened.
The unloader (1) of the present invention performs the function of removing the tyre from the vulcanizer (2) and conveying the same to the PCI.
As illustrated in Figure 2, the unloader (1) according to the invention comprises support arms (10) capable of engaging under a tyre (T) to be unloaded from the vulcanizer (2). The support arms (10) are mounted on a carriage (9) which is capable of being guided laterally on a slide frame (6). The carriage (9) is mounted on guide rails (8) provide on the slide frame (6) to enable said lateral movement such that the

support arms (10) mounted on the carriage (9) are capable of being guided towards and away from the vulcanizer (2) by means of the guide rails (8). The carriage (9) is powered by an actuator to the move the arms (10) in and out of the vulcanizer (2) to remove the cured tyre.
The unloader also includes a base frame (4) that is fixed to a floor surface. Supporting frame (4a) provide further rigidity to the unloader. Vertically movable connecting rods (5) vertically guided by the base frame (4) on which the slide frame (6) is mounted. The position of slide frame (6) is, either hydraulically or by other known means, guided by connecting rods (5). In an embodiment, a linear actuator (7) is connected to a bottom surface of the slide frame (6) and is capable of moving the slide frame (6) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage (9).
In a preferred embodiment, the invention envisages two support arms (10) capable of engaging under the tyre surface and maintaining the concentricity and parallelism during the unloading process. Each support arm (10) has a conveyor system (20) integrally mounted thereon to enable the support arms (10) to receive and pull out the tyre (T) from the vulcanizer (2). According to the invention, the tyre (T) is unloaded and moved from the vulcanizer (2) using the conveyor system (20) combined with the support arms (10) to a further conveyor for post curing whilst continuously disposing the tyre (T) in a generally horizontal position.
In a preferred embodiment, the conveyor system (20) is preferably a belt-type conveyor system wherein the belt (20a) is driven in a travel direction away from the vulcanizer (2). In other words, the

belt travel direction is preferred to be irreversible to ensure that the tyre (T) has a smooth unidirectional motion upon exiting the vulcanizer (2).
Figure 3a shows the different direction of movements of the belt-5 type conveyor system (20), carriage (9), and slide frame (6). As shown in Figure 3a, the belt of the belt-type conveyor system (20) is adapted to move in a direction away from the vulcanizer (2). The carriage (9) on which the support arms (10) are mounted is capable of moving in and out of, or toward and away from, the vulcanizer (2). Also, the slide 0 frame (6) is restricted to move up and down, in a direction perpendicular to the lateral movement of the carriage (9). Fig. 3b shows that the width, or the distance between the two support arms (10) can be adjusted according to the bead diameter of the cured tyre.
Referring to Figure 2, the at least two support arms (10) are
5 placed parallel to each other and at a distance away from each other
depending on the bead diameter of the tyre being unloaded. The arms
(10) are mounted on two guide rods (11) which facilitates the width
adjustment between the arms (10) according to the bead diameter of
the cured tyre. The width, or distance between the two arms (10), is
0 adjusted using a manual or automated mechanism. Figure 2 shows a
hand wheel (12) connected to a power screw (13) mechanism, said hand
wheel (12) being manually operated to adjust the width between the
two support arms (10). Other types of actuating mechanisms would be
readily recognizable by a person skilled in the art to perform such a
5 width adjustment, and thus would be within the scope of this
disclosure.

The belt-type conveyor system (20) is powered by an actuator (14) which is common to both the support arms (10) using a common drive shaft (15).
The sequential steps involved in unloading the tyre from the 5 vulcanizer is shown in Figures 4-8.
Upon completion of the vulcanization process the vulcanizer (2) is opened and the tyre is typically located in the lower mould. Then, the tyre (T) along with its bladder (not shown) is elevated away from the lower mould and the bladder shrinks and expands upwardly. During 10 this step, the unloader (1) is in standby position as shown in Figure 4. The carriage (9) on which the support arms (10) are mounted is positioned at a distal end away from the vulcanizer (2) and the slide frame (6) is in its initial position.
In the next step, as shown in Figure 5, the carriage (9) is moved 15 laterally such that a portion of the support arms (10) enters the vulcanizer (2). The support arms (10) engages with the underside of the tyre (T) and receives the tyre (T), which is now ready to move out from the vulcanizer in a horizontal orientation. At this stage, the slide frame (6) remains in its initial position.
20 As shown in Figure 6, the slide frame (6) is lifted up to a second
position by means of the actuator (7) such that the carriage (9) on which the support arms (10) are mounted also moves upward. Such movement enables the support arms (10) on which the tyre (T) is mounted to overcome the stripping force away from the bladder clamp
25 rings and remove the tyre (T) entirely from the mould. The tyre (T)

remains in the horizontal orientation on the support arms (10) at this stage.
As shown in Figure 7, the carriage (9) is moved laterally outward such that the support arms (10) having the tyre (T) mounted thereon exits the vulcanizer (2). Subsequently, the conveyor system (20) integrally provide with the support arms (10) moves in a direction away from the vulcanizer (2), and, as shown in Figure 8, the slide frame (6) moves downwards by means of the actuator (7) such that the carriage (9) on which the support arms (10) are mounted also moves downward together with the tyre (T). The tyre (T) is now ready to be transferred to a further conveyor (not shown) for post curing whilst continuously disposing the tyre (T) in a generally horizontal position.
Upon exiting the vulcanizer, the support arms (10) may also function as a cooling station providing cooling space and time for the cured tyre (T). This can be achieved by merely stopping the conveyor system (20) and allowing the tyre to remain stationary in the support arms (10). Thus, the unloader according to this invention can also be used in very compact layouts where provision of a cooling station in the unloader in addition to an existing stand-alone cooling station would be an efficient management of compact manufacturing lines.
As stated previously, according to the invention, the tyre is held consistently in a generally horizontal position during the period of time from unloading from the vulcanizer up to transference to a further conveyor for the next stage of manufacture thus avoiding problems associated with difference in position at the post curing stage, maintaining the concentricity and parallelism during the unloading

process, and rendering the cured tyre to be free of roller or other impedimental impressions. Such a configuration and effect is achieved by the support arms having conveyor systems integrally mounted thereon.
Moreover, according to the invention, the support arms with the conveying system can be used as an additional cooling station for tyres without impression of rollers of any kind.
A modular type straight running belt is used in the belt-type conveying system and the belt (20a) has at least 22% opening to heat dissipation from the hot/cured tyre. The belt (20a) is made preferably of polyamide which can work up to 180oC and can handle hot tyres. Belt thickness is about 16mm which is capable of handling higher stripping loads. The belt (20a) is in direct contact with the tyre during stripping, cooling, and while conveying the cured tyre to the post curing stage without requiring any tilting action for conveying the tyre. The belt configuration is only exemplary and not limiting since different types of belts achieving the required purpose under the normal operating conditions can be used which are within the scope of this disclosure.
Insomuch as the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that the subject matter as discussed above and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. An unloader for unloading tyres from a vulcanizer, said unloader
comprising:
support arms (10) for engaging under a tyre (T) to be unloaded from the vulcanizer (2), characterized in that each support arm has a conveyor system (20) integrally mounted thereon to enable the support arms (10) to receive and pull out the tyre from the vulcanizer (2), such that the tyre (T) is unloaded and moved from the vulcanizer (2) to a further conveyor for post curing whilst continuously disposing the tyre (T) in a generally horizontal position.
2. The unloader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support arms (10) are mounted on a carriage (9), said carriage (9) capable of being guided laterally on a slide frame (6).
3. The unloader as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support arms (10) mounted on the carriage (9) are capable of being guided towards and away from the vulcanizer by means of guide rails (8) provided on the slide frame (6).
4. The unloader as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conveyor system (20) integrally mounted on the support arms (10) is a belt-type conveyor system wherein a belt (20a) is driven in a travel direction away from the vulcanizer (2).

The unloader as claimed in claim 4, wherein the belt-type conveyor system is capable of being stopped to allow the support arms (10) to function as a stationary cooling station for the unloaded tyre before being conveyed to a post curing stage.
The unloader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support arms include two arms (10) provided at an adjustable distance from each other and mounted on respective guide rods (11), wherein the distance between the two arms (10) is capable of being adjusted based on a bead diameter of the tyre.
The unloader as claimed in claim 6, wherein the distance between the two arms (10) is adjusted using a power screw mechanism (13).
The unloader as claimed in claim 1 and 2, comprising a base frame (4) firmly mounted on a floor surface, wherein the slide frame (6) is mounted on connecting rods (5) which extend from the base frame (4), wherein the length of said connecting rods (5) is adjustable to move the slide frame (6) in a direction perpendicular to the lateral movement of the carriage (9).
The unloader as claimed in claim 6, wherein the respective conveyor system (20) provided on each arm (10) is driven by a common actuator (14) and a common drive shaft (15).

The unloader as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unloader is a stand-alone device connectable with the vulcanizer by means of an integration link (3).