阅读说明：本技术 将适于以无线电频率通信的电子装置插入到相应的橡胶套中的处理方法 (Method for inserting an electronic device suitable for communication at radio frequencies into a corresponding rubber sleeve ) 是由 西罗·维奇奥尼 阿方索·戴·埃吉迪奥 于 2020-04-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：将适于以无线电频率通信的电子装置插入到相应的橡胶套(5)中的处理方法,设置有：输送机(9),其用于使沿着插入路径配置的第一橡胶带(10)前进；第一进给装置(12),其用于将应答器(1)放置在第一橡胶带(10)的上表面；第二进给装置(13),其用于将完全覆盖应答器(1)的相应的生橡胶片(14)放置在第一橡胶带(10)的上表面且放置在各个先前放置的应答器(1)上；和切割装置(16),其沿着第一橡胶带(10)的行进方向配置在第二进给装置(13)的下游,用于通过围绕各个应答器(1)进行矩形形状的切割来切断至少第一橡胶带(10),以便从橡胶带分离各个套(5)。(Process for inserting electronic devices adapted to communicate at radio frequencies into respective rubber sleeves (5), provided with: a conveyor (9) for advancing a first rubber belt (10) arranged along an insertion path; a first feeding device (12) for placing the transponder (1) on the upper surface of the first rubber band (10); -second feeding means (13) for placing a respective raw rubber sheet (14) completely covering the transponders (1) on the upper surface of the first rubber band (10) and on each previously placed transponder (1); and a cutting device (16), arranged downstream of the second feeding device (13) along the direction of travel of the first rubber strip (10), for severing at least the first rubber strip (10) by making a rectangular-shaped cut around each transponder (1) so as to separate each sleeve (5) from the rubber strip.)

1. -a process of inserting electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequencies into respective rubber sleeves (5), each rubber sleeve (5) comprising two superposed strips (6, 7), between which strips (6, 7) a corresponding electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequencies is enclosed; the processing method comprises the following steps:

advancing a first rubber strip (10), preferably arranged horizontally along an insertion path, by means of a conveyor (9), wherein said first rubber strip (10) is intended to form a first strip (6) of each jacket (5); and

-placing an electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency on the upper surface of said first rubber band (10) by means of a first feeding device (12);

the processing method is characterized in that it further comprises the steps of:

-placing, by means of second feeding means (13), a corresponding rubber sheet (14) completely covering said electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency on the upper surface of said first rubber band (10) and on each previously placed electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency, wherein each rubber sheet (14) is intended to form a second strip (7) of each sleeve (5); and

-cutting at least said first rubber band (10) by means of a cutting device (16) arranged downstream of said second feeding device (13) along the travelling direction of said first rubber band (10) when making a boundary cut around respective electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency, so as to separate from said rubber band (10) respective sleeves (5) containing respective electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the cutting means (16) cut both the first rubber band (10) and the rubber sheet (14) to separate from the first rubber band (10) the sleeve (5) containing the respective electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency.

3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each boundary cut formed by the cutting means (16) is smaller than the corresponding rubber sheet (14), is completely contained within the corresponding rubber sheet (14) and also passes through the corresponding rubber sheet (14).

4. A process according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that:

-said conveyor (9) advances said rubber belt (10) according to an intermittent movement law providing a cyclical alternation of a movement phase during the advancement of said first rubber belt (10) and a stop phase during the keeping stationary of said first rubber belt (10); and

the feeding of the rubber sheet (14) and the cutting of the first rubber band (10) are only performed when the first rubber band (10) is stationary, i.e. during a stop phase of the intermittent movement, and are paused when the first rubber band (10) is in motion, i.e. during a motion phase of the intermittent movement.

5. Process as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said cutting means (16) comprise a cutting head (17) with a first internal hollow blade and a counter-head (18) aligned with said cutting head (17) and arranged on the other side of said first rubber band (10) with respect to said cutting head (17).

6. The process according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first feeding means (12) comprise:

a first gripping head adapted to pick up and hold at least one electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequencies; and

a motorized arm that moves the gripper head cyclically between a pick-up station and a transfer station, wherein the gripper head picks up electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency at the pick-up station and the gripper head places the electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency on an upper surface of the first rubber band (10) at the transfer station.

7. The process according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second feeding means (13) comprise:

a second head (19) adapted to pick up and hold at least one rubber sheet (14); and

a second motorized arm (19) that cyclically moves the second gripper head (19) between a pick-up station (S1) and a transfer station (S2), wherein the gripper head (19) picks up a rubber sheet (14) at the pick-up station (S1) and the gripper head (19) places the rubber sheet (14) on the upper surface of the first rubber band (10) and on a corresponding electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency at the transfer station (S2).

8. The processing method according to claim 7, wherein the second gripping head (19) comprises:

-a second internal hollow blade (21) suitable for cutting and picking up said rubber sheet (14) from a second rubber band (22); and

-pushers (25) arranged inside said second blade (21) and adapted to extract a rubber blade (14) from inside said blade (21) to place said rubber blade (14) on the upper surface of said first rubber band (10) and on respective electronic devices (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequencies.

9. A process according to claim 8, characterized in that the second rubber strip (22) from which the rubber sheet (14) is to be extracted is arranged laterally beside the first rubber strip (10).

10. Process according to claim 8, characterized in that the second rubber belt (22) from which the rubber sheet (14) is extracted is arranged above the first rubber belt (10) and is vertically aligned with the first rubber belt (10) itself.

11. The processing method according to one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising the step of: -pressing the first rubber band (10) and the respective rubber sheet (14) against each other by means of a compression device (15) arranged between the second feeding device (13) and the cutting device (16).

12. Process according to claim 11, wherein the compression means (15) comprise a pair of compression rollers cooperating with each other, wherein the first rubber band (10) carrying the electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequency and covered with the rubber sheet (14) passes between said pair of compression rollers.

13. Process according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said electronic device (1) adapted to communicate at radio frequencies is adapted to be integrated into a pneumatic tyre.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a process for inserting an electronic device adapted to communicate at radio frequencies into a corresponding rubber sleeve.

The invention finds advantageous application in the insertion of transponders into corresponding rubber sleeves, to which the following description will make explicit reference, without implying any loss of generality.

Background

In recent years, so-called "smart" pneumatic tires have emerged, which can form an active part of modern vehicles, providing information about the type of pneumatic tire installed, information about the state of the pneumatic tire and information about the environmental conditions.

"smart" pneumatic tires are generally equipped with transponders (i.e., electronic devices adapted to communicate at radio frequencies) that allow the identification, characteristics and history of the pneumatic tire to be remotely communicated (i.e., with the vehicle on which the tire is mounted and with the operator who must perform an inspection or replacement of the pneumatic tire).

Recently, a unification of RFID ("radio frequency identification") technology based on the existence of transponders and TPMS ("tire pressure monitoring system") technology has been proposed, which measures the effective inflation pressure in order to memorize the effective inflation pressure in the transponder and then to perform remote communication of the effective inflation pressure by the transponder itself.

Initially, it was proposed to adhere a transponder to the inner or outer surface of a pneumatic tire sidewall; this solution is very simple from the design point of view and is also suitable for existing pneumatic tyres; in contrast, however, it cannot guarantee that the transponder does not detach from the pneumatic tire after the sidewall of the pneumatic tire undergoes periodic deformation (particularly when it sticks to the outer surface).

Hereafter, it has been proposed to integrate transponders within the structure of the pneumatic tire, i.e. inside the various layers that make up the pneumatic tire.

In order to be able to integrate the transponder into the structure of the pneumatic tire, the transponder is usually pre-inserted into a rubber sleeve that completely surrounds the transponder from each side; such rubber boots have both the function of allowing more efficient transmission and reception of radio frequency signals, by virtue of the dielectric properties of the rubber, and the function of protecting the transponder during the processing necessary for coupling itself to the components constituting the pneumatic tire.

For inserting the transponders into the respective rubber sleeves, it is known to advance a first rubber strip, arranged horizontally along a rectilinear insertion path, to place the transponders on the upper surface of the first rubber strip, to place a second rubber strip, having the same dimensions as the first rubber strip, on the upper surface of the first rubber strip (and therefore above the previously placed transponder), to press the two rubber strips between them by means of at least one pair of cooperating rollers between which the two rubber strips pass, then to cross-cut the two rubber strips in order to separate the rubber sleeves (which comprise a portion of the two rubber strips).

EP2172878 discloses a method of producing an RFID tag.

US2011284155 discloses a method for manufacturing at least one element comprising at least one rubber covered electronic component, wherein the component is placed in contact with a first rubber tape and covered by a second rubber tape in a manner covering the component.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a process for inserting an electronic device suitable for communication at radio frequencies into a corresponding rubber sleeve which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to the present invention, a process for inserting an electronic device adapted to communicate at radio frequencies into a corresponding rubber sleeve according to the appended claims is provided.

The claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention which form an integral part of the present description.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show exemplary, non-limiting embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a transponder inserted into a rubber sleeve;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are two sections of the transponder of FIG. 1 along section line II-II and along section line III-III, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a processing unit inserting the transponder into a respective rubber housing;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the processing unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the device for feeding the sheet of rubber of the processing unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the gripper head of the feeding device of FIG. 6 inside the pick-up station; and

fig. 8 is a schematic side view of the gripping head of fig. 7 within a transfer station.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes as a whole a transponder, i.e. an electronic device (generally passive, i.e. without a dedicated power supply) capable of storing information and of communicating by means of radio frequencies. In other words, the transponder 1 is a small-sized "smart tag" adapted to respond to remote polling by a specific fixed or portable device called reader (or polling) device; the reader is able to read and/or modify the information contained in the transponder 1 which is making the polling, while communicating at radio frequency with the transponder 1 itself. The transponder 1 is thus part of a wireless reading and/or writing system operating according to the so-called RFID technology ("radio frequency identification").

The transponder 1 is intended to be integrated into a pneumatic tire, i.e. to be inserted between components of the pneumatic tire during the construction of the pneumatic tire itself, or to be fixed to the outer surface of the pneumatic tire 1.

According to what is shown in fig. 1, the transponder 1 comprises an electronic circuit 2 (i.e. a microchip) equipped with a non-volatile memory (typically EEPROM or FRAM, the latter being more expensive but technically more advanced), an antenna 3 connected to the electronic circuit 2, and a support 4 (typically comprising a layer of mylar, plastic such as PET or PVC, or other similar material) carrying the electronic circuit 2 and the antenna 3 and generally defined as a "substrate"; as described below, the support 4 may also be absent. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the antenna 3 is a dipole antenna (or simply dipole) and comprises two equally open arms realized using linear electrical conductors, whereby an electrical current flows to radiate the electromagnetic field remotely.

In use, the antenna 3 receives an electromagnetic signal which, by electromagnetic induction, induces a potential difference in the antenna 3, which generates a current circulation in the electronic circuit 2 in order to power the electronic circuit 2 itself; the electronic circuit 2 thus activated transmits the data contained in its memory by means of the antenna 3 and, where appropriate, also modifies the data contained in its memory.

According to what is shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, the transponder 1 is inserted into a rubber sleeve 5, the rubber sleeve 5 comprising two strips 6 and 7 of raw rubber which are superimposed and pressed one against the other (preferably, the rubber of the two strips 6 and 7 is initially raw and vulcanizes with the rest of the pneumatic tyre during the final vulcanisation of the pneumatic tyre itself); typically, the two raw rubber strips 6 and 7 of the sleeve 5 are 1mm to 2mm longer/wider than the transponder 1 (i.e. than the electronic circuit 2 and the antenna 3). The two raw rubber strips 6 and 7 are initially parallelepipedic and deform around the components of the transponder 1 as they are pressed one against the other around the transponder 1 itself. According to an alternative embodiment, the two rubber strips 6 and 7 of the sleeve 5 are vulcanized from the beginning (i.e. the rubber of the two rubber strips 6 is immediately vulcanized) or semi-vulcanized (or only partially vulcanized); the two rubber strips 6 and 7 may also have different degrees of vulcanization between them (for example, strip 6 may be raw rubber and strip 7 may be vulcanized rubber or semi-vulcanized rubber, or vice versa).

According to a different embodiment, not shown, the support 4 is not present and its function is performed by the rubber strips 6 and 7 of the sleeve 5.

According to a preferred (but obviously non-limiting) embodiment, the thickness T of the sleeve 5 (containing the transponder 1 inside it) is between 0.6mm and 2mm, the width W of the sleeve 5 being about 8mm to 12mm, and the length L of the sleeve 5 being about 60mm to 80 mm.

In fig. 4 and 5, reference numeral 8 denotes a processing unit for inserting the transponder 1 as a whole into the respective rubber sleeve 5.

The treatment unit 8 comprises a conveyor 9, the conveyor 9 advancing (for example horizontally) a single raw rubber belt 10 arranged along a horizontal and straight insertion path; the rubber strips 10 are intended to form the strips 6 of each jacket 5, as described below. The raw rubber strip 10 is fed to the conveyor 9 by means of a feeding device 11 (which feeding device 11 can produce the raw rubber strip 10 by means of an extruder), which can otherwise unwind the raw rubber strip 10 from a reel (whereby the raw rubber strip 10 is wound, for example by means of inserting a non-stick film, which can be removed as the unwinding proceeds and is generally reused after final removal).

The processing unit 8 comprises a feeding device 12, which feeding device 12 places the individual transponders 1 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 and (approximately) at the center of the rubber band 10; essentially, each transponder 1 is placed on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 in such a way as to remain within the confines of the rubber band 10 itself. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, each transponder 1 is placed transversely on the upper surface of the rubber band 10, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the transponder 1 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 10 of the rubber band 10; according to an alternative embodiment (not shown), each transponder 1 is placed longitudinally on the upper surface of the rubber band 10, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the transponder 1 is parallel (coaxial) to the longitudinal axis of the rubber band 10.

For example, the feeding device 12 may comprise a gripping head (suction or magnetic) adapted to pick up and hold the transponders 1 and a motorized arm for cyclically moving the gripping head between a pick-up station, where the gripping head picks up the transponders 1, and a transfer station, where the gripping head places the transponders 1 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10. In other words, the gripping head of the feeding device 12 is able to hold the transponder 1 by means of pneumatic suction or by means of magnetic attraction generated by an electromagnet.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the feeding device 12 places a single transponder 1 at a time on the upper surface of the rubber band 10; according to a different embodiment, not shown, the feeding device 12 places a plurality of transponders 1 at a time (for example, two, three, four, five … … transponders 1 at a time) on the upper surface of the rubber band 10.

The processing unit 8 comprises a feeding device 13, which feeding device 13 is arranged downstream of the feeding device 12 in the direction of travel of the rubber band 10 and places a rubber sheet 14 completely covering the transponders 1 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 and above each previously placed transponder 1; as described below, each rubber sheet 14 is intended to form a strip 7 of each jacket 5. In the embodiment shown in the figures, each rubber sheet 14 has a rectangular shape, whereas according to other embodiments not shown, each rubber sheet 14 has a shape different from the rectangular shape. The rubber sheet 14 may be composed of raw rubber, semi-vulcanized rubber, or vulcanized rubber. In the embodiment shown in the figures, each rubber sheet 14 covers a single transponder 1; according to a different embodiment, not shown, each rubber sheet 14 covers a plurality of transponders 1 placed side by side (for example two, three, four, five … … transponders 1 placed side by side).

For example, the feeding device 13 may comprise a gripping head adapted to pick up and hold the rubber sheet 14 and a motorized arm that moves cyclically the gripping head between a pick-up station, where the gripping head picks up the rubber sheet 14, and a transfer station, where the suction gripping head places the rubber sheet 14 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 and on the corresponding transponder 1.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the feeding device 13 places a single rubber sheet 14 on the upper surface of the rubber belt 10 at a time; according to a different embodiment, not shown, the feeding device 13 places a plurality of rubber sheets 14 at a time (for example, two, three, four, five … … rubber sheets 14 at a time) on the upper surface of the rubber belt 10.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the processing unit 8 comprises a compression device 15, which compression device 15 is arranged downstream of the feeding device 13 along the direction of travel of the rubber band 10 and is adapted to press each rubber sheet 14 against the rubber band 10 (in the case of insertion of the corresponding transponder 1).

According to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the compression means 15 comprise at least one pair of rollers cooperating between them, wherein the rubber band 10 carrying the transponder 1 covered with the rubber sheet 14 passes between the rollers.

The processing unit 8 comprises cutting means 16 arranged downstream of the compression means 15 along the travelling direction of the rubber band 10 and adapted to cut the rubber band 10 when performing a boundary cut of rectangular shape around the individual transponders 1, so as to separate the sleeve 5 containing the individual transponders 1 from the rubber band 10. The cutting device 16 comprises a cutting head 17 with a rectangular blade (the interior of which is obviously empty) and a counter-head 18 aligned with the cutting head 17 and arranged on the other side of the rubber strip 10 with respect to the cutting head 17; the cutting head 17 can be vertically movable, such as towards and away from the rubber band 10, while the counter head 18 can be fixed, or it can also be vertically movable, such as towards and away from the rubber band 10.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cutting device 16 cuts one transponder 1 at a time; according to a different embodiment, not shown, the cutting device 16 cuts a plurality of transponders 1 at a time (for example, two, three, four, five … … transponders 1 at a time).

According to a preferred embodiment, the cutting means 16 cut both the rubber strip 10 and the rubber sheet 14 in order to separate the sleeve 5 containing the respective transponder 1 from the rubber strip 10; in other words, the rectangular cut made by the cutting device 16 is (slightly) smaller than the rubber sheet 14, so that the rectangular cut made by the cutting device 16 also contains (passes through) the rubber sheet 14. That is, each rectangular boundary cut formed by the cutting device 16 is smaller than the corresponding rubber sheet 14, is completely contained within the corresponding rubber sheet 14 and also passes through the corresponding rubber sheet 14. Thus, the cutting device 16 cuts each jacket 5 from within the corresponding rubber sheet 14.

It is emphasized that the conveyor 9 moves the rubber band 10 according to an intermittent motion law, i.e. stepwise, which envisages a cyclical alternation of a motion phase during the advancement of the rubber band 10 and a stop phase during the maintenance of the rubber band 10 at rest. All the processes (feeding of the transponder 1, feeding of the rubber sheet 14, cutting of the sleeve 5) are carried out when the rubber band 10 is stopped (or during a stop phase) and are paused when the rubber band 10 is in motion (i.e. during a motion phase).

In fig. 6, a possible exemplary embodiment of a feeding device 13 is shown, which places a raw rubber sheet 14 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 and on each previously placed transponder 1. The feeding device 13 comprises a gripping head 19 adapted to pick up and hold the rubber sheet 14 and a motorised arm 20 cyclically moving the gripping head 19 between a pick-up station S1 and a transfer station S2, wherein the gripping head 19 picks up the rubber sheet 14 at the pick-up station S1 and the gripping head 19 places the rubber sheet 14 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 and on the corresponding transponder 1 at the transfer station S2.

According to fig. 7 and 8, the gripping head 19 has a blade 21 of rectangular shape and empty inside, suitable for cutting and removing the rubber sheet 14 from the rubber band 22 that circulates above the sliding plane 23 and also acts as counterpart of the blade 21; thus, the already used portion of the rubber band 22 has a succession of rectangular openings 24 (as shown in fig. 6) at those areas where the rubber sheet 14 is extracted. The blade 21 may have a different shape from rectangular: the blade 21 must reproduce the shape of the rubber sheet 14, and therefore, if the shape of the rubber sheet 14 is different (more or less) from the rectangle, the blade 21 must also have the same shape (more or less) from the rectangle. The gripping head 19 also has a pusher 25 arranged in the rectangular blade 21 and adapted to extract the rubber sheet 14 from the blade 21 to place the rubber sheet 14 on the upper surface of the rubber band 10 and on the corresponding transponder 1. In this regard, it is important to observe that the green rubber sheet 14 is very "sticky" and therefore tends to adhere strongly to the inner surface of the rectangular blade 21; therefore, it is not necessary to provide a means for holding the rubber sheet 14 in the rectangular blade 21, but it is necessary to provide a means (such as the pusher 25) for picking up the rubber sheet 14 from the rectangular blade 21. Obviously, if the rubber sheet 14 is made of vulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber, the blade 21 may be provided with retaining means (e.g. vacuum means) for retaining the rubber sheet 14 therein.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rubber belt 22 from which the rubber sheet 14 is to be taken out is arranged laterally beside the rubber belt 10; according to a different embodiment, not shown, the rubber band 22 from which the rubber sheet 14 is extracted is arranged above the rubber band 10 and is vertically aligned with the rubber band 10 itself (in this embodiment, the gripping head 19 performs only a vertical rectilinear movement).

The embodiments described herein can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The above-described processing unit 8 has a number of advantages.

First of all, the above-mentioned processing unit 8 is particularly simple and economical to implement, since it envisages performing only a few operations that are easy to automate.

Furthermore, the above-described insertion method makes it possible to insert the transponder 1 into the sleeve 5 while always ensuring high accuracy, because each rubber sheet 14 is placed on the upper surface of the rubber tape 10 and on the corresponding transponder 1 when the rubber tape 10 is stationary.

Finally, the above-described insertion method can reduce the production costs compared to a solution in which another continuous rubber strip is superimposed on the rubber strip 10, since the amount of rubber discarded after cutting by the cutting device 16 is reduced; this is due to the fact that the rubber sheets 14 are smaller than the rubber strips 10 (i.e. they are almost the size of the transponder 1).

Description of the reference numerals

1 Transponder

2 electronic circuit

3 aerial

4 support piece

5 sets of

6 strips

7 strips

8 processing unit

9 conveyer

10 rubber belt

11 feeding device

12 feeding device

13 feeding device

14 rubber sheet

15 compression device

16 cutting device

17 cutting head

18 match head

19 clamping head

20 maneuvering arm

21 blade

22 rubber belt

23 sliding plane

24 opening

25 pusher

S1 pickup station

S2 transfer station

Height H

Length of L

Width W

Thickness of T