阅读说明：本技术 用于验证光学装备的验证工具和方法 (Verification tool and method for verifying optical equipment ) 是由 M·J·科戈曼 J·斯米恩克 N·蒂伦伯格 J·范登弗鲁格特 于 2016-01-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于验证光学装备的验证工具和方法,其中一个或多个轮胎部件的第一轮胎部件包括多个特征中的第一特征,该第一轮胎部件在测量之后被包括多个特征中的第二特征的一个或多个轮胎部件中的相同或另一轮胎部件交叠,其中验证工具被提供有第一参考元件和第二参考元件,第一参考元件被布置成表示第一特征而第二参考元件被布置成表示第二特征,其中第二参考元件相对于第一参考元件偏移以至少部分暴露第一参考元件,其中该验证工具包括被布置成围绕轮胎成型鼓被容适的环状主体,其中该验证工具进一步包括把手。(The present invention relates to a validation tool and a method for validating optical equipment, wherein a first tyre component of one or more tyre components comprises a first feature of a plurality of features, which first tyre component after measurement is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprising a second feature of the plurality of features, wherein the validation tool is provided with a first reference element and a second reference element, the first reference element being arranged to represent the first feature and the second reference element being arranged to represent the second feature, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element, wherein the validation tool comprises a ring-shaped body arranged to be fitted around a tyre building drum, wherein the validation tool further comprises a handle.)

1. Validation tool for validating an optical equipment used for measuring a plurality of features of one or more tyre components during a winding application of the tyre components around a tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprises a first feature of the plurality of features which, after measurement, is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprising a second feature of the plurality of features, wherein the validation tool is provided with a first reference element and a second reference element, the first reference element being arranged to represent a first feature and the second reference element being arranged to represent a second feature, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element, wherein the validation tool comprises a ring-shaped body adapted around the tyre building drum, wherein the validation tool further comprises a handle.

2. Validation tool according to claim 1, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element in a direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the tyre building drum.

3. Validation tool according to claim 1, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the tyre building drum.

4. Validation tool according to claim 1, wherein the first feature is a leading end of the first tyre component.

5. Validation tool according to claim 4, wherein the first reference element comprises a first reference edge arranged to represent a front end edge of the front end and detectable by the optical equipment.

6. Validation tool according to claim 5, wherein the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around the drum shaft with a first radius, wherein the validation tool comprises a first reference surface extending with a second radius larger than the first radius, wherein the first reference element is provided with a first gap or groove in the first reference surface, wherein the first reference edge is formed at the boundary of the first gap or groove.

7. Validation tool according to claim 6, wherein the first gap or groove is arranged to represent an open splice between leading and trailing ends of the first tyre component.

8. Validation tool according to claim 6, wherein the first gap or groove extends into the first reference surface down to the first radius.

9. Validation tool according to claim 7, wherein the first gap or groove is further delimited by a first auxiliary edge extending parallel to the first reference edge with a second radius and detectable by the optical equipment, wherein the distance between the first reference edge and the first auxiliary edge represents the width of the represented open splice.

10. Validation tool according to claim 4, wherein the first reference element comprises a reference ramp arranged to represent a sloped front end and to be detectable by the optical equipment.

11. Validation tool according to claim 4, wherein the second feature is a trailing end of the first tyre component.

12. Validation tool according to claim 11, wherein the second reference element comprises a second reference edge arranged to represent a trailing edge of the trailing end and detectable by the optical equipment.

13. Validation tool according to claim 6, wherein the second reference element comprises a second reference surface extending at a third radius larger than the second radius, wherein the second reference edge is formed at a boundary of the second reference surface.

14. Validation tool according to claim 2, wherein the first tyre component is cut at a cutting angle, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element extend along a helical path at a pitch angle representative of or equal to the cutting angle.

15. Validation tool according to claim 14, wherein the validation tool comprises a first set of reference elements comprising at least the first reference element and the second reference element, wherein the validation tool further comprises a second set of reference elements being mirror symmetric to the first set of reference elements.

16. Validation tool according to claim 14, wherein the validation tool comprises a reference surface detectable by the optical equipment and arranged to represent a side face of the first tyre component.

17. Validation tool according to claim 16, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element intersect the reference surface to form a triangular leading tip region and a triangular trailing tip region representing the leading and trailing tips, respectively, of the first tyre component.

18. Validation tool according to claim 14, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element in a direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the tyre building drum, the first reference element and the second reference element being offset in the circumferential direction by an offset angle in the range of 30 to 50 degrees.

19. Validation tool according to claim 7, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element in a direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the tyre building drum, wherein the first tyre component is cut at a cutting angle, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element extend along a helical path at a pitch angle representing or equal to the cutting angle, the validation tool being provided with a third reference element comprising a second gap in the first reference surface, wherein the second gap is arranged to represent an alternative open splice between the leading end and the trailing end of the first tyre component.

20. Validation tool according to claim 19, wherein the first gap or groove is further delimited by a first auxiliary edge, the first auxiliary edge extends parallel to the first reference edge with a second radius and is detectable by the optical equipment, wherein the distance between the first reference edge and the first auxiliary edge represents the width of the represented open splice, the second gap is bounded by a second auxiliary edge and a third auxiliary edge extending parallel to the second auxiliary edge, both the second auxiliary edge and the third auxiliary edge are detectable by the optical equipment, wherein a distance between the second auxiliary edge and the third auxiliary edge is different from a distance between the first reference edge and the first auxiliary edge and represents a width of the replacement open splice.

21. Validation tool according to claim 3, wherein the validation tool comprises a third or further reference element arranged to represent a replacement or further replacement trailing end having a different overlap distance with respect to the leading end than the trailing end represented by the second reference element, wherein the third or further reference element is offset with respect to both the first reference element and the second reference element in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the tyre building drum.

22. Assembly of a tyre building drum and a validation tool according to claim 1, wherein the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around the drum shaft, wherein the circumferential surface is arranged for supporting one or more tyre components, wherein the validation tool is mounted in a validation position relative to the tyre building drum with the first reference element and the second reference element radially at substantially the same position as the respective features they are arranged to represent.

23. Assembly according to claim 22, wherein the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around the drum shaft with a first radius, wherein the annular body is provided with an inner radius equal to the first radius.

24. A method for authenticating an optical equipment with the authentication tool of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing the validation tool in a validation position relative to the tire building drum, obtaining measurements from the first reference element and the second reference element using the optical equipment, and repeating the measurements to validate the optical equipment.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: virtually superimposing the measurement of the second reference element over the measurement of the first reference element to achieve a virtual splice.

Summary of The Invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a validation tool for validating optical equipment used for measuring a plurality of characteristics of one or more tyre components during a winding application of said tyre components around a tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprises a first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics which, after the measurement, is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprising a second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, wherein a validation tool is provided having a first reference element and a second reference element, the first reference element being arranged to represent the first characteristic and the second reference element being arranged to represent the second characteristic, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element, wherein the validation tool comprises a ring-shaped body adapted around the tyre building drum, wherein the validation tool further comprises a handle.

The handle facilitates accurate and ergonomic placement of the first validation tool around the tire building drum. The validation tool can thus be accommodated in the same axial position as the tire component in which it should be.

Since the first reference element is exposed, both the first reference element and the second reference element can be repeatedly measured. Thus, continuous measurements may be obtained for comparison to demonstrate the accuracy and/or calibration of the optical equipment, and/or to reliably confirm or verify that the optical equipment may be reliable.

In an embodiment, the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element in a direction corresponding to the circumferential direction of the tyre building drum. The first reference element and the second reference element can thus be distributed in the circumferential direction on the validation tool.

In an alternative embodiment, the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the tyre building drum. The first reference element and the second reference element can thus be distributed in the axial direction on the validation tool.

In a preferred embodiment of the validation tool, the first feature is a leading end of the first tire component. Preferably, the first reference element comprises a first reference edge arranged to represent a front edge of the front end and detectable by the optical equipment. This allows for verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain measurements of the front end.

In an embodiment the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around the drum at a first radius, wherein the validation tool comprises a first reference surface extending at a second radius larger than the first radius, wherein the first reference element is provided with a first gap or groove in the first reference surface, wherein a first reference edge is formed at the boundary of said first gap or groove. The gap or groove may make the first reference edge more distinct relative to the first reference surface and thus more easily detected by the optical equipment.

In an embodiment, the first gap or groove extends into the first reference surface down to a first radius. The bottom of the first gap or groove can thus represent the circumferential surface of the tyre building drum.

In an embodiment, the first gap or groove is arranged to represent an open splice between the leading end and the trailing end of the first tyre component. Preferably, the first gap or groove is further delimited by a first auxiliary edge extending parallel to the first reference edge with a second radius and detectable by the optical equipment, wherein the distance between the first reference edge and the first auxiliary edge represents the width of the indicated open splice. This allows for verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain measurements of the split splice.

In an alternative embodiment, the first reference element comprises a reference ramp arranged to represent a sloped front end and detectable by the optical equipment. The reference slope can represent a sloped leading edge, such as that created by cutting the leading end with an ultrasonic blade at a very sharp angle (e.g., less than 20 degrees) relative to the plane of the tire component.

In an embodiment, the second feature is a trailing end of the first tire component. Preferably, the second reference element comprises a second reference edge arranged to represent a trailing edge of the trailing end and detectable by the optical equipment. This allows for verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain a measurement of the tail end.

In an embodiment, the second reference element comprises a second reference surface extending at a third radius larger than the second radius, wherein the second reference edge is formed at a boundary of said second reference surface. The second reference surface can represent a portion or area at or near the trailing end of the first tire component that normally overlaps the leading end. A second reference edge can be formed distinctly at the end of the second reference surface to be detectable by optical equipment.

In an embodiment, the first tyre component is cut at a cutting angle, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element extend along a helical path at a pitch angle representative of or equal to said cutting angle. The first reference element and the second reference element can thus represent their respective features across the respective spiral path.

In one embodiment, the validation tool includes a first set of reference elements including at least a first reference element and a second reference element, wherein the validation tool further includes a second set of reference elements that are mirror images of the first set of reference elements. The first and second sets may represent various features, such as clockwise and counterclockwise windings or tire components having different cut angles.

In an embodiment, the validation tool comprises a reference surface detectable by the optical equipment and arranged to represent a side of the first tyre component. This allows verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain a measurement of the side of the first tire component. Additionally, verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain a measurement of the width of the first tire component may be facilitated.

In an embodiment, the first reference element and the second reference element intersect the reference surface to form a leading triangle tip region and a trailing triangle tip region representing the leading and trailing cusps, respectively, of the first tire component. This allows verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain measurements of the leading and trailing tips.

In an embodiment, the first reference element and the second reference element are offset in the circumferential direction by an offset angle in the range of 30 to 50 degrees (and preferably about 40 degrees). The reference elements can thus be spaced apart sufficiently to not interfere with measurements made at the individual reference elements.

In an embodiment, the validation tool is provided with a third reference element comprising a second gap on the first reference surface, wherein the second gap is arranged to represent an alternative open splice between the leading end and the trailing end of the first tyre component. Preferably, the second gap is bounded by a second auxiliary edge and a third auxiliary edge extending parallel to the second auxiliary edge, both the second auxiliary edge and the third auxiliary edge being detectable by the optical equipment, wherein the distance between the second auxiliary edge and the third auxiliary edge is different from the distance between the first reference edge and the first auxiliary edge and represents the width of the replacement open splice. This allows for verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain measurements for various open splices.

In a further embodiment, the validation tool comprises a third or further reference element arranged to represent an alternative or further alternative trailing end having a different overlap distance with respect to the leading end than the trailing end represented by the second reference element, wherein the third or further reference element is offset with respect to both the first reference element and the second reference element in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the tyre building drum. This allows verification or validation of the optical equipment to obtain measurements for a variety of different overlap distances.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides an assembly of a tyre building drum and the above-mentioned validation tool, wherein the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around the drum shaft, wherein the circumferential surface is arranged for supporting one or more tyre components, wherein the validation tool is mounted in a validation position relative to the tyre building drum, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element are radially at substantially the same position as the respective positions they are arranged to represent. In said verification position, the verification tool is able to accurately represent the tyre component and its characteristics for verifying or confirming the optical equipment.

Preferably, the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around said drum shaft with a first radius, wherein the annular body is provided with an inner radius equal to said first radius. The validation tool is thus arranged to be fitted around the circumferential surface of the tyre building drum into the same axial position as the tyre component it should represent.

According to a third non-claimed aspect, the present invention provides an assembly of a tyre building drum and validation tools for validating optical equipment used for measuring a plurality of characteristics of one or more tyre components during winding application of the tyre components around the tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprises a first characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, which first tyre component after measurement is overlapped by the same or another tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprising a second characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, wherein the validation tools are provided with a first reference element arranged to represent the first characteristic and a second reference element arranged to represent the second characteristic, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element, wherein the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around said drum shaft, wherein the circumferential surface is arranged for supporting one or more tyre components, wherein said validation tool is mounted in a validation position relative to said tyre building drum, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element are radially at substantially the same position as the respective features they are arranged to represent, wherein the tyre building drum comprises a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around said drum shaft with a first radius, wherein the annular body is provided with an inner radius equal to said first radius.

The validation tool is thus arranged to be fitted around the circumferential surface of the tyre building drum into the same axial position as the tyre component it should represent.

According to a fourth non-claimed aspect, the present invention provides a validation tool for validating an optical equipment used for measuring a plurality of features of one or more tyre components during a winding application of said tyre components around a tyre building drum, wherein a first tyre component of the one or more tyre components comprises a first feature of the plurality of features, said first tyre component being overlapped by the same or another tyre component of said one or more tyre components comprising a second feature of the plurality of features after the measurement, wherein the validation tool is provided with a first reference element and a second reference element, said first reference element being arranged to represent the first feature and said second reference element being arranged to represent the second feature, wherein the second reference element is offset with respect to the first reference element to at least partially expose the first reference element, wherein the validation tool comprises a body arranged to be mounted in an axial direction along the tyre building drum and extending substantially in one radial direction of the tyre building drum towards a circumferential surface of the tyre building drum to form a splice validation area.

The validation tool can thus be placed at the side of the tyre building drum and can be observed by the optical equipment independently of the tyre building drum. Optionally, the validation tool can even be held to the side of the tire building drum while the tire building drum is operating.

According to a fifth non-claimed aspect, the present invention provides an assembly of a tyre building drum comprising a drum shaft and a circumferential surface extending concentrically around said drum shaft, wherein the circumferential surface is arranged for supporting one or more tyre components, and a validation tool according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein said validation tool is mounted in a validation position relative to said tyre building drum, wherein the first reference element and the second reference element are radially at substantially the same position as the respective features they are arranged to represent.

In said validation position, the validation tool is capable of accurately representing the tyre component and its features for validating or confirming the optical equipment, wherein the validation tool comprises a body mounted in an axial direction along the tyre building drum to extend substantially in one radial direction of the tyre building drum towards the circumferential surface of the tyre building drum to form a splice validation area. The validation tool can thus be placed at the side of the tyre building drum and can be observed by the optical equipment independently of the tyre building drum. Optionally, the validation tool can even be held to the side of the tire building drum while the tire building drum is operating.

In a preferred embodiment thereof, the tyre building drum is arranged to be movable in an axial direction defined by the drum shaft, wherein the validation tool is arranged to be movable in the axial direction together with the tyre building drum into the viewing range of the optical equipment. Thus, the validation tool and the tire building drum can alternately enter and exit the viewing range of the optical equipment.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a method for authenticating an optical equipment with the above authentication tool, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a validation tool in a validation position relative to the tire building drum, obtaining measurements from the first reference element and the second reference element using the optical equipment, and repeating the measurements to validate the optical equipment. By repeating the measurements, comparable measurements can be obtained, which can be used to prove the accuracy and/or calibration of the optical equipment and thereby verify or validate the optical equipment.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: the measurement of the second reference element is virtually superimposed on the measurement of the first reference element to achieve a virtual splice. By superimposing the measurements, these measurements are not only individual measurements of the reference elements of the validation tool, but can be correlated to each other as if the features that the respective reference elements should represent were actually spliced at the splice.

The various aspects and features described and illustrated in this specification can be applied individually whenever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the appended dependent claims, can be referred to as subject matter of a divisional patent application.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a first validation tool 1 and a validation method according to a first embodiment of the invention. The first validation tool 1 and the validation method are used to validate or confirm an optical equipment 7 (in particular an optical equipment 7 used in the tyre building industry) in a manner known per se, measuring a plurality of characteristics of one or more rubber, rubber-covered or elastane tyre components applied to a tyre building drum 9 to form a green tyre.

Fig. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary prior art scenario in which optical equipment 7 is operated during green tire building for measuring the leading end LE and trailing end TE of a tire layer or component 80 (particularly a belt, wave or tread). The tire component 80 has a thickness T. The optical equipment 7 comprises a light source 70 for emitting light onto the tyre component to be measured and an optical sensor 71 for detecting light reflected by the tyre component. Preferably, the light source 70 is a laser light source for emitting laser lines. The leading end LE and the trailing end TE of the tire component are measured by detecting changes in the elevation in the laser line.

The typical tire component 80 is circumferentially applied to the tire building drum 9 by winding through rotation of the tire building drum 9. The tyre building drum 9 has a drum axis 90 defining a central rotation axis C, a longitudinal or axial direction L extending parallel to the central rotation axis C, and a direction R radially outward from said central rotation axis C. The tyre building drum 9 is further provided with a circumferential surface 91 extending concentrically from the rotation axis C around the rotation axis C with a first radius R1 for supporting the tyre component 80 at said first radius R1. The optical equipment 7 is normally placed in a predetermined measuring position relative to the tyre building drum 9. The optical equipment 7 is operatively coupled to or comprises an encoder 72 for determining the angular position of the tyre building drum 9 for each measurement.

During rotation of the tyre building drum 9, the optical equipment 7 detects or measures a leading end LE at a first angular position a1 (see fig. 1A) and a trailing end TE at a second angular position a2 (see fig. 1B). After one full rotation of the tyre building drum 9, the tail end TE is spliced to the leading end LE (see fig. 1B), wherein there is an overlapping distance X between the tail end TE and the leading end LE. Since the rubber material of the tyre part 80 is still tacky, the trailing end TE is bonded to the leading end LE at the overlap X. Optionally, the engagement between the trailing end TE and the leading end LE is further increased by rolling a pressure roller (e.g., stitching) over the trailing end TE. The trailing end TE forms a so-called splice S with the leading end LE, wherein the splice S cannot be undone without destructive measurement (e.g. tearing the tire component 80 apart). It is also meaningless to tear the splice S because it is not guaranteed that the trailing end TE and the leading end LE will still indicate their position in the splice S after the tear. The leading end LE is at or near the trailing end TE in the radial direction R of the tyre building drum 9 inside the splice S. To determine the length of the overlap X at the splice S, the difference between the two measured angular positions a1, a2 after a full or 360 degree rotation of the tire building drum 9 is calculated.

The first validation tool 1 and method as shown in fig. 2 provide a feasible way of validating or confirming the above-mentioned optical equipment 7. The first validation tool 1 is arranged to reliably represent a typical tire component, such as the tire component 80 described above in fig. 1B, having the ability to consistently repeat measurements to validate or validate the optical equipment 7 during the validation method.

To this end, the first validation tool 1 comprises an annular or ring-shaped body 10 having an inner radius equal or substantially equal to the first radius R1. The first validation tool 1 is thus arranged to be fitted around the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9 into a validation position in the same axial position as the tyre component 80 of fig. 1B, which the first validation tool 1 should represent. The annular body 10 also has generally the same thickness T as the tire component 80 it should represent, and has a surface 11 radially outward of a second radius R2, the second radius R2 preferably being equal to the first radius R1 plus the thickness T of the tire component 80. The radially outward surface 11 forms a first reference surface of the first validation tool 1, thereby indicating the outer circumference of the tyre component 80 at or near the leading end LE on top of the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9.

The first validation tool 1 is provided with a first reference element 2 and a second reference element 3, the first reference element 2 being arranged to represent a first feature (in this case the leading end LE) of the tyre component 80 of fig. 1B, the second reference element 3 being arranged to represent a second feature (in this case the trailing end TE) of the tyre component 80 of fig. 1B.

The first reference element 2 is at a first angular position a1 corresponding to or representing the first angular position a1 of the front end LE. The first reference element 2 is formed as a gap 20 in the thickness T of the ring-shaped body 10. The gap 20 is delimited by, forms or presents the first reference edge 21 and the auxiliary edge 22 in the outer surface 11 of the ring-shaped body 10 by the first reference edge 21 and the auxiliary edge 22 in the outer surface 11 of the ring-shaped body 10, wherein the first reference edge 21 and the auxiliary edge 22 can be detected or measured by the optical equipment 7. The first reference edge 21 facing the second reference element 3 represents a front end edge of the front end LE of the tyre component 80.

The second reference element 3 comprises a second reference surface 30 arranged to represent a portion of the tyre component 80 at or near the trailing end TE, in fact overlapping the leading end LE. In the direction of the first reference element 2, the second reference surface 30 is inclined or convex gradually outwards in the radial direction R at a position where the rubber material is actually deformed by the presence of the leading end LE on the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9. The second reference surface 30 extends smoothly on the outer surface 11 of the annular body 10 with a third radius R3, the third radius R3 being equal to the second radius R2 plus the thickness T of the tyre component 80. On the side of the second reference surface 30 facing the first reference element 2, the second reference surface 30 ends abruptly with a second reference edge 31 extending radially on the first reference element 2 with a third radius R3. This second reference edge 31 can be detected or measured by the optical equipment 7 and is arranged to represent the trailing edge of the trailing end TE of the tyre component 80.

In order to prevent second reference element 3, in particular second reference surface 30 thereof, from overlapping first reference element 2 in first angular position a1, as is the case in the practice of trailing end TE and leading end LE, second reference element 3 is offset relative to first reference element 2 in the angular or circumferential direction of first validation tool 1 by more than a known, preset or predetermined offset angle B relative to second angular position a2 to at least partially expose first reference element 2. In particular, the second reference element 3 is placed in a third angular position A3 at 360 degrees plus an offset X minus an offset angle B relative to the first angular position a 1.

The second reference element 3 thus represents the tail end TE spaced at the offset angle B from the position where the splice S was actually made, as if the splice had occurred at the third angular position a 3. The first reference element 2 in the first angular position a1 remains exposed and can be repeatedly measured. In the validation position of the first validation tool 1 on the tyre building drum 9, the first validation tool 1 is rotated together with the tyre building drum 9 in front of the optical equipment 7 between the first angular position a1 and the third angular position A3 to measure and/or detect the first reference element 2 in the first angular position a1 and the second reference element 3 in the third angular position A3. By knowing the offset angle B, the offset of the second reference element 3 relative to the first reference element 2 can be virtually compensated, cancelled or cancelled to arrive at a virtually superimposed or virtually spliced first reference element 2 and second reference element 3. In other words, by offsetting the measurement from the second reference element 3 by the same offset angle B back to the second angular position a2, the measurement from the second reference element 3 at the third angular position A3 can be virtually superimposed on the measurement from the first reference element 2 at the first angular position a.

Fig. 3A, 3B, 4, 5 and 6A-6C show a second validation tool 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second validation tool 101 is particularly useful for validating or certifying optical equipment 7, which optical equipment 7 is typically used to measure tyre components 80 that have been cut under wave or cord angles such that the leading end LE and the trailing end TE are formed as triangular leading and trailing tips. Examples of such tire components 80 are wave plies, belts, and other carcass assemblies.

The second validation tool 101 is very similar to the first validation tool 101 in that it also has an annular body 110, an outer surface 111, a first reference element 102 and a second reference element 103. The second validation tool 101 further comprises a handle or grip 112 to facilitate accurate and ergonomic placement of the first validation tool 101 around the tire building drum 9. As shown in fig. 6A, the first reference element 102 is again formed to exhibit a recess, contour or gap 120 representing a first reference edge 121 and a first auxiliary edge 122 of the front edge of the front end LE. As shown in fig. 6C, the second reference element 103 includes a similar reference surface 130 and a second reference edge 131 representing the trailing edge of the trailing end TE.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the first reference element 102 and the second reference element 103 of the second validation tool 101 extend along a helical path across the outer surface 111 of the annular body 110, which represents a helical path across the leading end LE and the trailing end TE, respectively, of the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9. The spiral paths of the first reference element 102 and the second reference element 103 are arranged to have a pitch angle representing the cutting angle, e.g. the wave angle or the cord angle, at which the leading end LE and the trailing end TE, respectively, are cut.

The second validation tool 101 differs from the first validation tool 1 in that: the gap 120 (as shown in fig. 6A) of the first reference element 102 is a first gap 120 arranged to not only present a first reference edge representing a front end edge LE but additionally or alternatively also to represent a so-called 'open splice'. An open splice is an unsuccessful splice, in which the leading LE and trailing TE ends are not connected or overlapping. The result is that there is a gap between the leading end LE and the trailing end TE, as represented by the width W1 of the first gap 120.

In this example, the second validation tool 101 further includes a third reference element 104 having a second gap 140 (shown in fig. 6B), the second gap 140 being arranged to represent an alternate open splice of the first gap 120 of fig. 6A. The third reference element 104 is offset in the circumferential direction relative to the first reference element 102 into a fourth angular position a 4. The second gap 140 of the third reference element 104 also extends along a helical path across the outer surface 111 of the ring-shaped body 110 that corresponds to the helical path of an alternate leading end (not shown in fig. 1B). Gap 140 is bounded by third reference edge 141 and second auxiliary edge 142, forming or presenting third reference edge 141 and second auxiliary edge 142 second gap 140 has a width W2 that is less than, and preferably at least one-half as narrow as, first gap 120. In this example, the first gap 120 has a first width W1 of about 2 millimeters. The second gap 140 has a second width W2 of about 1 millimeter. Thus, depending on the combination of the second reference element 103 and the first reference element 102 or the third reference element 104, different types of open splices may be measured.

In this exemplary embodiment, the second reference element 103 is offset in the circumferential direction of the second validation tool 101 by an angle in the range of 30-50 degrees and specifically about 40 degrees with respect to the first reference element 103. The third reference element 104 is offset with respect to the first reference element 103 by an angle in the range of 30-50 degrees and in particular by about 40 degrees in the circumferential direction of the second validation tool 101, which is opposite to the offset of the second reference element 103 with respect to the first reference element 102. The angular positions a1, A3, a4 indicate the starting points of the spiral paths of the respective reference elements 102, 103, 104. Each reference element 102, 103, 104 extends itself up to about 70-90 degrees and in particular up to about 85 degrees along a respective helical path of the circumference of the second validation tool 101 as shown in fig. 3A and 3B. Preferably, the reference elements 102, 103, 104 are arranged in the first set such that their helical path extends within one circular arc portion of 180 degrees of the circumference of the second validation tool 101. As shown in fig. 3A, 3B, 4 and 5, the reference elements 102, 103, 104 extend within a first half or upper half of the second validation tool 101.

The second validation tool 101 is provided with a second set of reference elements 102 ', 103 ', 104 ' which are mirror images of the first reference element 102, the second reference element 103 and the third reference element 104, respectively. As shown in fig. 3A, 3B, 4 and 5, a second set of reference elements 102 ', 103 ', 104 ' extends within a second or lower half of the second validation tool 101. The second set of reference elements 102 ', 103 ', 104 ' represents tire components (not shown) wound onto the tire building drum 9 in opposite circumferential directions or tire components (not shown) having different or opposite wave angles or cord angles. In this particular example, the two sets represent clockwise and counterclockwise windings of the tire component.

As shown in fig. 3A, 3B and 4, the second validation tool 101 is further provided with a first side edge 151 and a second side edge 152 extending circumferentially in the outer surface 111 of the second validation tool 101 for providing additional reference surfaces indicating the side edges and/or the longitudinal edges of the tyre component 80 of fig. 1A and 1B in the axial direction L of the tyre building drum 9. The side edges 151, 153 intersect the helically extending reference elements 102, 103, 104 and form a triangular leading tip region 123 and a triangular trailing tip region 132, the triangular leading tip region 123 and the triangular trailing tip region 132 representing triangular shaped leading tips and triangular shaped trailing tips at the leading end LE and the trailing end TE, respectively, of the tire component 80 (as shown in fig. 1A and 1B). The measurement of the width of the tire component 80 can be verified or confirmed based solely on the side edges 151, 152. Depending on the combination of the first side edge 151 and the second reference element 103, the measurement with respect to the trailing tip region 132 may be verified or confirmed. Depending on the combination of the second side edge 152 and the first reference element 102, measurements with respect to the tip end region 123 may be verified or confirmed. In this example, the side edges 151, 152 are formed at the boundaries of two circularly extending depressions.

The second validation tool 101 is arranged to rotate together with the tyre building drum 9 for at least half a circumference in front of the optical equipment 7 (as shown in fig. 1A and 1B) to measure and/or detect the helical path of the first reference element 102, the second reference element 103 and the third reference element 104. Preferably, the second validation tool 101 is arranged to be rotated up to a full circumference to further comprise a second set of reference elements 102 ', 103 ', 104 '. Similar to the first validation tool 1, measurements obtained from the second validation tool 101 are virtually superimposed based on the known circumferential offsets between the reference elements 102, 103, 104 to determine, validate and/or confirm measurements of the gap and other features of the tire component 80, such as open splice, width, leading tip 123 and trailing tip 132.

Fig. 7, 8, 9 and 10 show a third validation tool 201 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The third validation tool 201 is particularly useful for validating or confirming the optical equipment 7 that is normally used for measuring tyre components 80 cut at right or perpendicular angles to their longitudinal direction. An example of such a tire component 80 is a tread or tread cap.

As shown in fig. 7, the third validation tool 201, unlike the first validation tool 1 and the second validation tool 101, does not have an outer surface that extends annularly around the drum shaft 90. In contrast, the third validation tool 201 comprises a main body 210, the main body 210 being mounted to the drum shaft 90 and/or the tyre building drum 9 in a validation position, wherein the main body 210 extends substantially in one radial direction along the tyre building drum 9. In this particular example, the third validation tool 201 is used in conjunction with a skeleton to form a drum 9, the drum 9 comprising two half-drums 9A, 9B spaced apart in the axial direction of the drum shaft 90. A third validation tool 201 is mounted along one of the half-drums 9A.

At or close to the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9, the third validation tool 201 forms a partial circumferential surface or splice validation area 211 extending only along a portion, sector or area of the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9 (where in practice the splice to be measured occurs), in this example the splice validation area 211 covers a portion or section of the circular arc circumference of the circumferential surface 91 in the range of 20-90 degrees and preferably less than 50 degrees.

The third validation tool 201 is provided with a first reference element 202 and a second reference element 203, the first reference element 202 representing a leading end LE of the tyre component 80 as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, the second reference element 203 representing a trailing end TE of the tyre component 80 as shown in fig. 1A and 1B. As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the first reference element 202 comprises a groove 220, the groove 220 extending with a first radius R1 equal to the first radius R1 of the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9 in fig. 1A and 1B. The groove 220 is arranged to represent the circumferential surface 91 of the tyre building drum 9 as shown in fig. 7. First reference element 202 further includes a first reference surface 221 extending radially outside groove 220 at a second radius R2. The second radius R2 is equal to the first radius R1 plus the thickness T of the tire component 80, which the third validation tool 201 should represent R2. First reference element 202 further includes a detectable sloped or chamfered first reference edge 222, first reference edge 222 forming an transition between groove 220 and first reference surface 221 of third validation tool 201. The first reference edge 222 is formed at the boundary of the groove 220 or it delimits the groove 220. The first reference edge 222 extends at a first angular position a1 and is arranged to represent a front end edge of the front end LE of the tire component 80 on top of the circumferential surface 91 of the tire building drum 9 in fig. 1A and 1B.

The second reference element 203 comprises a second reference surface 230 extending with a third radius R3, the third radius R3 being equal to the second radius R2 plus the further thickness T of the tyre component 80, the third validation tool 201 shall represent the third radius R3. The second reference surface 230 is arranged to represent an area or portion of the tire component 80 at or near the trailing end TE, in practice the portion overlapping the leading end LE at the splice in fig. 1B. The reference surface 230 ends with a detectable second reference edge 231, the second reference edge 231 extending parallel to the first reference edge 222 at a first overlapping distance X1 from said first reference edge 222. The second reference edge 231 preferably extends at a second angular position a2 and is arranged to represent a trailing edge of the trailing end TE of the tire component 80 in fig. 1B. When considered in the circumferential direction of the tyre building drum 9, the second reference surface 230 extends beyond the first reference surface 222 in the first angular position a1 and up to the second reference edge 231 in the second angular position a 2.

In order to prevent the second reference element 203, in particular its reference surface 230, from overlapping the first reference element 202 in the first angular position a1, as is the case in practice with a trailing end TE and a leading end LE, the second reference element 203 is offset in the longitudinal or axial direction L of the third validation tool 201 and the tyre building drum 9 with respect to the first reference element 202 by a known, preset or predetermined first transfer offset Y1 to at least partially expose the first reference element 202. In this example, a first translation offset Y1 of second reference element 203 relative to first reference element 202 is measured in an axial or longitudinal direction L relative to a midpoint M of first reference element 202.

In this exemplary embodiment, the third validation tool 201 is further provided with a third reference element 204 and a fourth reference element 205, each very similar to the second reference element 203 and arranged to represent a replacement trailing edge of a replacement trailing end (not shown) having a different amount of overlap of said replacement trailing end with respect to the leading end LE. Specifically, the third reference element 204 includes a third reference surface 240 that extends at a third radius R3. The third reference surface 240 is arranged to represent an area or portion of the tire component 80 at or near the replacement trailing end TE, in practice the portion overlapping the leading end LE at the splice in fig. 1B. The third reference surface 240 ends with a detectable third reference edge 241, the third reference edge 241 extending parallel to the first reference edge 222 at a second overlapping distance X2 from said first reference edge 222. The fourth reference element 205 includes a fourth reference surface 250 that extends at a third radius R3. The fourth reference surface 250 is arranged to represent an area or portion of the tire component 80 at or near the replacement trailing end TE, in practice the portion overlapping the leading end LE at the splice in fig. 1B. The fourth reference surface 250 ends with a detectable fourth reference edge 251, the fourth reference edge 251 extending parallel to the first reference edge 222 at a third overlapping distance X3 from said first reference edge 222.

In order to prevent the third reference element 204 and the fourth reference element 205, in particular the reference surfaces 240, 250 thereof, from overlapping the first reference element 202 in the first angular position a1, as is the case in practice with the replacement of the trailing end and the leading end LE, the third reference element 204 and the fourth reference element 205 are offset in the longitudinal or axial direction L of the third validation tool 201 and the tyre building drum 9 with respect to the first reference element 202 by a known, preset or predetermined second transfer offset Y2 and third transfer offset Y3, respectively, so as to at least partially expose the first reference element 202. In this example, third reference element 204 and fourth reference element 205 are located opposite second reference element 203 in axial or longitudinal direction L relative to midpoint M of first reference element 202. The third reference element 204 and the fourth reference element 205 are spaced apart enough to allow their respective reference edges 241, 251 to be independently detected.

Having only the transfer offsets Y1, Y2, Y3, and no angular offset, ensures that the respective reference elements 203, 204, 205 are maintained in the same angular position relative to the first reference element 202. The reference elements 203, 204, 205 are thus in the same angular position as the respective features of the tyre component 80 they are supposed to represent. Virtually superimposing the individual measurements thus only requires a compensation of the transfer offsets Y1, Y2, Y3 in the axial/longitudinal direction L, without the need to also compensate for the angular offsets as in the first validation tool 1 and the second validation tool 101. Thus, the measurements on the third validation tool 201 may be considered purer and less subject to tolerances.

It is noted that the third validation tool 201, in contrast to the first validation tool 1 and the second validation tool 101, is not in the same axial position as in the axial or longitudinal direction L of the tyre building drum 9, but is mounted to the tyre building drum 9 or in this case the drum shaft 90 in a validation position adjacent, along or to the side of the tyre building drum 9 or half drum 9A in the longitudinal direction L. In this exemplary embodiment, the third validation tool 201 is clamped to the drum shaft 90 by the mounting element 206 engaging the body 210 of the third validation tool 201.

The optical equipment as shown in fig. 1A and 1B is typically arranged in a plane radially intersecting the tyre building drum 9 to observe the tyre components being applied to said drum 9. Thus, the third validation tool 201 at the side of the drum 9 is initially out of view. The tire building drum 9 is typically movable in the longitudinal direction L together with the drum shaft 90 or on the drum shaft 90 to move between different tire component servers. This mobility is used to move the third validation tool 201 in the longitudinal direction L together with fig. 9 to bring the third validation tool 201 into the viewing range of the optical equipment (not shown). The third validation tool 201 can be moved in the longitudinal direction L during the measurement to bring the individual reference elements 202, 203, 204, 205 into view. Alternatively, the optical equipment can be moved to the axial position of the third validation tool. The latter is less popular because it requires movement of the optical equipment, which may present tolerances that undermine the verification process from the root. To detect the reference elements 202, 203, 204, 205, the third validation tool 201 is moved into the measurement position and optionally rotated with respect to the optical equipment 7 of fig. 1B.

Fig. 11, 12 and 13 show a fourth validation tool 301 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth validation tool 301 has a body 310 that is the same as the body 210 of the third validation tool 201 as shown in fig. 7 and 8, but instead has a partial circumferential surface or splice validation region 311. At the splice verification area 311, the fourth verification tool 301 is provided with reference elements 302, 303, 304, 305. Each reference element 302, 303, 304, 305 of the fourth validation tool 301 has a reference edge 322, 331, 341, 351 which can be detected by the optical equipment 7 of fig. 1B. The first reference element 302 is provided with a groove 320 and a first reference surface 321. The other reference elements 303, 304, 305 are each provided with corresponding other reference surfaces 331, 341, 351 similar to those of the third validation tool 201. The fourth verification tool 301 differs from the third verification tool 201 in that: the reference elements 302, 303, 304, 305 are arranged to represent features of different tyre components 80. Specifically, first reference edge 322 is formed to form an excess ramp surface 322 between groove 320 and first reference surface 321. The ramp surface 322 is obliquely positioned to represent the leading end LE of the tire component 80 that has been cut, typically with an ultrasonic blade, at a very sharp angle (e.g., only 20 degrees or less) relative to the plane of the tire component 80.

Similar to the third validation tool 201, the second reference element 303, the third reference element 304, and the fourth reference element 305 are offset in the axial or longitudinal direction L by different transfer offsets Y4, Y5, Y6 to expose the first reference element 302. The reference edges 331, 341, 351 of the above-mentioned reference elements 303, 304, 305 are arranged to represent different trailing edges of a replacement trailing end (not shown) having different amounts of overlap X4, X5, X6 of said trailing end with respect to the leading edge of the leading end LE (as represented by the first reference edge 322).

Optionally, the reference elements 202, 203, 204, 205 of the third validation tool 201 and the reference elements 302, 303, 304, 305 of the fourth validation tool 301 can be combined on a splice validation area (not shown) of a single validation tool, e.g. the reference elements 302, 303, 304, 305 of the fourth validation tool 301 are placed in a second group by placing the reference elements 202, 203, 204, 205 of the third validation tool 201 in a first group, wherein the groups are spaced apart in the circumferential direction or are placed in spaced apart angular positions on the splice validation area.

The above description illustrates various types of validation tools 1, 101, 201, 301 for validating or confirming an optical equipment 7 as shown in fig. 1A and 1B. The required offset between the reference elements 2, 3, 102, 103, 104, 202, 203, 204, 205, 302, 303, 304, 305 can be achieved by a circumferential offset or a transfer offset or another offset, for example based on a combination of both of the above offsets. As long as the offset is known, the detected angular positions a1-a4 of the reference elements 2, 3, 102, 103, 104, 202, 203, 204, 205, 302, 303, 304, 305 can be virtually superimposed into virtual positions corresponding to the actual angular positions of the respective features of the tyre component 80 that the validation tool 1, 101, 201 should represent.

The reference elements 2, 3, 102, 103, 104, 202, 203, 204, 205, 302, 303, 304, 305 are preferably made of a very rigid or flexible material to reduce tolerances in the measurements. Preferably, the reference elements 2, 3, 102, 103, 104, 202, 203, 204, 205, 302, 303, 304, 305 are made of hard plastic or metal.

The validation tool 1, 101, 201, 301 as shown is used to validate or confirm measurements representing individual characteristics of a single tire component 80. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the number of reference elements and the radius over which they extend can be adjusted so that more reference elements can represent the characteristics of one or more other tyre components.

It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Many variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art in light of the above discussion, and are encompassed by the scope of the present invention.