SAMPLE-HOLDERS THE ENDS OF AN

ELASTOMER SPECIMEN TO BE SUBJECTED TO DYNAMIC MECHANICAL-THERMAL ANALYSIS

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL SECTOR

This invention relates to an assembling machine and to an assembly method for coupling to two sample-holders the ends of an elastomer specimen to be subjected to dynamic mechanical- thermal analysis.

STATE OF THE ART

In the study and development of elastomers (the generic term elastomer indicates materials that after a deformation imposed by a deforming force are able to return to approximately the initial shape and size at the end of the applied deforming force) to be used for the construction of tyres, dynamic mechanical/thermal tests are frequently carried out on elastomer specimens of standard shape in such a way as to detect experimentally the mechanical/thermal properties of the elastomers .

For example, there is a frequent use of the so-called dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis (DMTA, also known as dynamic mechanical-thermal spectroscopy) , which is a thermal analysis technique used for the study of the viscoelastic properties of elastomers and is obtained by applying to a specimen a deformation oscillating under a given condition (temperature and frequency) and in a given way (traction, compression, shear, bending, etc.) .

The mechanical-thermal dynamic analysis is carried out in a measuring machine which comprises a closed chamber at a controlled temperature and a test station that is housed in the closed chamber and is made to apply a predetermined mechanical stress to a specimen. In particular, the dynamic mechanical- thermal analysis can be carried out with elastomer samples previously assembled with appropriate sample-holders to be coupled to the test station arranged in the closed chamber. The elastomer samples have a predefined shape (for example of parallelepiped geometry) ; at the ends of each sample are fastened two sample-holders, which are provided with respective vices to clamp (and therefore lock) the sample with a predetermined clamping force and are provided with connection members to be fixed to the measuring machine.

Currently, the dimensional verification of the specimens (before measuring a specimen it is necessary to know with precision its dimensions) and subsequent assembly of the sample-holders to the specimens are carried out manually by a laboratory operator; however, this manual intervention slows down the process and above all makes the process less repeatable and less controllable since accidental errors are potentially introduced due to the fact that the laboratory operator can unpredictably make mistakes. In particular, the laboratory operator must measure (at least) the thickness of an elastomer specimen, must assemble the elastomer specimen with the two sample-holders by checking the correct alignment of the specimen with respect to the two sample-holders and by applying a predetermined fixing force, and finally must load the specimen in the measuring machine communicating (typically by means of a real or virtual keyboard) to the control unit of the measuring machine the thickness of the specimen, the identifier of the specimen, and the type of test to be carried out. It is therefore evident that there are many passages wherein the laboratory operator can commit (inadvertently) errors (almost always due to distraction consequent to the continuous repetition of a limited number of operations) .

The patent application US2014053656A1 describes different types of sample-holders for elastomer specimens to be subjected to dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide an assembling machine and an assembly method for coupling to two sample-holders the ends of an elastomer specimen to be subjected to dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis, which assembling machine and assembly method are free from the drawbacks described above and are, in particular, easy and economic to produce.

According to this invention, an assembling machine and an assembly method are provided for coupling to two sample-holders the ends of an elastomer specimen to be subjected to dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis, according to what is stated in the annexed claims .

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now described in reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate several non-limiting exemplary embodiments, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an elastomer specimen that must be subjected to dynamic and mechanical-thermal analysis;

• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the specimen of Figure 1 coupled to two sample-holders;

• Figure 3 is a plan view of an assembling machine for the preparation of elastomer specimens and created in accordance with this invention; • Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively a right side view, a left side view and a front view of the assembling machine of Figure 3; and

• Figure 7 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a processing station of a mounting unit of the assembling machine of Figure 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety an elastomer specimen which has a parallelepiped shape and must be subjected to dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis.

As shown in Figure 2, the specimen 1 must be coupled to two sample-holders 2 which engage the two ends of the specimen 1. Each sample-holder 2 comprises a vice 3 which is made to clamp the specimen 1 and is provided with two jaws 4 and 5, which engage opposite sides of the specimen 1. In each sample- holder 2 the two jaws 4 and 5 of the vice 3 are crossed and mutually connected by means of a screw 6: by screwing the screw 6 the two jaws 4 and 5 are approached to one another (thus clamping the specimen 1) while unscrewing the screw 6 the two jaws 4 and 5 are distanced from one another (thus releasing the specimen 1) . In each sample-holder 2, the jaw 4 of the vice 3 is provided with an extension 7 that projects itself from the jaw 4, terminates with a frusto-conical head and is used both to "park" the specimen 1 assembled with two sample-holders 2 in a warehouse and to mechanically connect the sample-holder 2 to the active members of a measuring machine (known and not shown) , which carries out the dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis.

In Figure 3, number 8 denotes as a whole an assembling machine that receives in input the specimens 1, carries out at least one measurement on each specimen 1 (in particular it measures at least the thickness of each specimen 1) , and couples to each specimen 1 a pair of sample-holders 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the assembling machine 8 comprises a measuring unit 9 which receives the specimens 1 from the outside and carries out a measurement of the specimens 1 themselves, a mounting unit 10 which receives the specimens 1 from the measuring unit 9 and applies to each specimen 1 two corresponding sample-holders 2, and a storage unit 11 which receives the specimens 1 coupled to the sample-holders 2 from the assembling unit 10 and stores ("parks") the specimens 1 themselves until they are collected and analyzed by the measuring machine 1.

The measuring unit 9 comprises a wheel (carousel) 12 which is mounted so as to rotate with intermittent motion (i.e. with a stepped motion which cyclically alternates stoppage phases and motion phases) around a vertical rotation axis 13. The wheel 12 presents a plurality of pockets 14 (twenty pockets 14 in the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the annexed figures) , which are oriented radially and are each made to contain a corresponding specimen 1. The rotation of the wheel 12 around the axis 13 of rotation advances cyclically each pocket 14 through: an input station SI wherein an operator inserts inside the pocket 14 a specimen 1, a measuring station S2 wherein the thickness of the specimen 1 contained in the pocket 14 is measured, and an output station S3 wherein the specimen 1 is extracted from the pocket 14 and transferred to the assembling unit 10.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the measuring unit 9 comprises a measuring device 15, which is located at the measuring station S2 and comprises at least a sensor 16 that measures the thickness of a specimen 1 in at least three distinct points.

As shown in Figures 3-6, the mounting unit 10 comprises a transfer device 17 which cyclically collects the specimens 1 from the pockets 14 of the wheel 12 in the output station S3 and cyclically deposits the specimens 1 in a processing station S4 of the mounting unit 10. The transfer device 17 is of the "portal " type and comprises a suction gripping head 18 that is moved (at least) with two degrees of freedom along a vertical direction z and along a longitudinal direction x (arranged horizontally) . In particular, the suction gripping head 18 is carried by an actuating cylinder 19 (for example pneumatic or electric) , which is arranged vertically and is made to move the suction gripping head 18 vertically (i.e. along the vertical direction z) ; the actuating cylinder 19 is mounted on a slide 20 which slides (for example due to the action of an electric motor) along two rails 21 parallel to one another which are arranged above the wheel 12 and above the processing station S4.

As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the storage unit 11 comprises (at least) a rack 22, which comprises two supports 23 that are parallel to one another and arranged side by side and have respective successions of semicircular recesses made to contain (receive) the cylindrical portions of the extensions 7 of the sample-holders 2. The rack 22 is made to contain both the empty sample-holders 2 (i.e. without specimens 1 and therefore ready to be coupled to the specimens 1) and the full sample- holders 2 (i.e. coupled to the respective specimens 1) .

As shown in Figures 3-7, the mounting unit 10 comprises a (further) transfer device 24, which collects a pair of empty sample-holders 2 (i.e. without specimens 1) from the rack 22 of the storage unit 11 and deposits the pair of empty sample- holders 2 (i.e. without specimens 1) in the processing station S4 of the mounting unit 10, wherein the pair of sample-holders 2 is coupled to a specimen 1; subsequently, the transfer device 24 collects the pair of full sample-holders 2 (i.e. coupled to a respective specimen 1) from the processing station S4 of the mounting unit 10 and deposits the pair of full sample-holders 2 (i.e. coupled to a respective specimen 1) in the rack 22 of the storage unit 11.

The transfer device 24 is of the "portal" type and comprises a pair of grippers 25, which are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart and each of which is made to grip (and therefore retain with force) the cylindrical portion of an extension 7 of a sample-holder 2; the pair of grippers 25 is moved (at least) with two degrees of freedom along the vertical direction z and along a transversal direction Y (arranged horizontally and illustrated in Figures 3-5). In particular, the pair of grippers 25 is carried by an actuating cylinder 26 (for example pneumatic or electric) , which is arranged vertically and is made to move the pair of grippers 25 vertically (i.e. along the vertical direction z) ; the actuating cylinder 26 is mounted on a pair of slides 27 which slide (for example due to the action of an electric motor) along two rails 28 (shown in Figure 1) parallel to each other which are arranged above the rack 22 and above the processing station S4 but lower than the rails 21.

As shown in Figure 7, the processing station S4 of the mounting unit 10 comprises a central working surface 29 arranged horizontally and on which a central vise 30 is mounted in a fixed position which is made to receive and tighten a specimen 4. The central vise 30 includes a fixed jaw 31 (i.e. that does not move), which establishes a reference position, and a movable jaw 32, which is parallel and opposite to the fixed jaw 31 and is movably mounted under the thrust of an actuator 33 (for example a pneumatic or an electric cylinder) . In use, the actuator 33 moves the movable jaw 32 away from the fixed jaw 31 to allow the transfer device 24 to insert a specimen 1 between the two jaws 31 and 32 and then the actuator 33 approaches the movable jaw 32 to the fixed jaw 31 to clamp between the two jaws 31 and 32 a central portion of the specimen 1 and, at the same time, arrange the specimen 1 in a given and predetermined position established by the fixed jaw 31.

As shown in Figure 7, the processing station S4 of the mounting unit 10 includes a pair of movable elements 34, which are arranged on the opposite sides of the central vice 30 and are mounted on respective rails fixed to the working surface 29 to slide (translate) only and solely along the longitudinal direction x (i.e. along a straight horizontal direction) under the control of two corresponding actuators 35 (for example pneumatic or electric cylinders); in use, the two movable elements 34 are moved away or closer together and in a specular manner to the central vice 30, which is arranged between the two movable elements 34 themselves. Each movable element 34 supports a supporting plate 36 which is made to receive and accommodate a corresponding sample-holder 2; in particular the supporting plate 36 comprises a semicircular recess 37 made to contain (receive) the frusto-conical portion of the extension 7 of a sample-holder 2 (normally the semicircular recess 37 negatively reproduces the frusto- conical shape of the extension 7 and therefore also has a frusto-conical shape) . In addition, each movable element 34 supports a presser 38 which is arranged opposite the recess 37 of the supporting plate 36 and is movable along the longitudinal direction x under the control of an actuator 39 (for example a pneumatic or an electric cylinder) .

Finally, the processing station 10 comprises a motorized screwing device 40 (illustrated in Figures 5 and 6) , which is arranged below the working surface 29 and is made to screw/unscrew the screws 6 of the sample-holders 2 housed in the supporting plates 36 to open or close the vices 6 of the sample-holders 2 themselves. A description is given below of the operation of the assembling machine 8 with reference to the processing of a single specimen 1.

Initially the specimen 1 is inserted manually by an operator in a pocket 14 of the wheel 12 in the input station SI.

Subsequently the rotation of wheel 12 around the rotation axis 13 moves the pocket 14 carrying the specimen 1 from the input station SI to the measuring station S2 wherein the sensor 16 of the measuring device 15 detect the thickness of the specimen 1 in at least three distinct zones of the specimen 1 itself .

Subsequently the rotation of the wheel 12 around the axis of rotation 13 moves the pocket 14 carrying the specimen 1 from the measuring station S2 to the output station S3 wherein the suction gripping head 18 of the transfer device 17 collects the specimen 1 from the pocket 14 of the wheel 12 and transfers the specimen 1 to the processing station S4 of the mounting unit 10; in particular, in the processing station S4, the transfer device 17 deposits the specimen inside the central vice 30 whose jaws 31 and 32 have been suitably distanced from one another by the actuator 33 (i.e. the central vice 30 has been opened for a smooth entry of the specimen 1) . Once the specimen 1 has been inserted in the central vice 30 (i.e. between the two jaws 31 and 32 of the central vice 30) , the central vice 30 is closed by the actuator 33 (i.e. the movable jaw 32 of the central vice 30 is pushed with a calibrated force toward the fixed jaw 31 to lock the specimen 1 in a predetermined position) .

Simultaneously with the feeding of the specimen 1 to the central vice 30, the two grippers 25 of the transfer device 24 collect two empty sample-holders 2 (i.e. without specimens 1) from the rack 22 of the storage unit 11 and deposit the two empty sample-holders 2 onto the supporting plates 36 of the movable elements 34; in this phase the two movable elements 34 are arranged and maintained (relatively) away from the central vise 30 in such a way that the empty sample-holders 2 carried by the supporting plates 36 do not interfere with the specimen 1 carried by the central vice 30. It is important to observe that the empty sample-holders 2 (i.e. without specimens 1) arranged on the rack 22 of the storing unit 11 have their respective vices 3 fully open, i.e. the jaws 4 and 5 of the respective vices 3 are distant from one another in such a way as to be ready to receive the ends of a specimen 1. Once the two sample-holders 2 have been arranged on the supporting plates 36, the actuators 39 push the two pressers 38 against the ends of the projections 7 of the two sample-holders 2 to push the extensions 7 themselves against the recesses 37 of the supporting plates 36 and then arrange the extensions 7 (therefore the corresponding sample-holders 2) in a given predetermined position established by the recesses 37.

At this point, the actuators 35 approach the two movable elements 34 to the central vice 30 (in this phase the actuators 39 maintain the pressers 38 pressed against the ends of the extensions 7 of the two sample-holders 2 to keep the two sample- holders 2 in a given predetermined position established by the recesses 37) in such a way that the two ends of the specimen 1 carried by the central vice 30 enter into the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2 carried by the supporting plates 36 of the movable elements 34 (i.e. in such a way that the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2 carried by the supporting plates 36 of the movable elements 34 are arranged around the two ends of the specimen 1 carried by the central vice 30) . Once the approach stroke of the movable elements 34 to the central vice 30 has ended (i.e. when the movable elements 34 stops because the two ends of the specimen 1 carried by the central vice 30 are completely inside the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2 carried by the supporting plates 36 of the movable elements 34), the screwing device 40 is activated and acts on the screws 6 of the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2 carried by the supporting plates 36 of the movable elements 34 in such a way as to close (tighten) with a predetermined clamping force of the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2 against the ends of the specimen 1 carried by the central vice 30. In this respect it is important to observe that the screwing device 40 is preferably of the dynamometric type to apply to the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2 a calibrated and predetermined tightening force .

Subsequently, i.e. once the vices 3 of the two sample- holders 2 have been tightened against the ends of the specimen 1 carried by the central vice 30, actuators 39 pull away the pressers 38 from the extensions 7 of the two sample-holders 2 carried by the supporting plates 36 and then the two grippers 25 of the transfer device 24 collect the two full sample-holders 2 (i.e. coupled to the specimen 1) from the supporting plates 36 of the two movable elements 34 and deposit the two full sample- holders 2 (i.e. coupled to the specimen 1) on the rack 22 of the storage unit 11.

The embodiments described herein may be combined without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The assembling machine 8 described above has many advantages .

Firstly, the assembling machine 8 described above makes it possible to significantly reduce the time required to prepare the specimens 1 for a dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis: in the assembling machine 8 the time required for the preparation of a specimen 1 is approximately one minute while a laboratory operator requires on average over four minutes to carry out the same operation (i.e. a quadruple time) .

In addition, the assembling machine 8 described above provides a net improvement in the repeatability of the analysis by eliminating all possible accidental errors which may be committed by a laboratory operator (particularly, but not only, in checking the alignment of the specimen 1 with respect to the two sample-holders 2 and in controlling the tightening force of the vices 3 of the two sample-holders 2) .

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE FIGURES

1 specimen

2 sample-holder

3 vice

4 jaw

5 jaw

6 screw

7 extension

8 assembly machine

9 measuring unit

10 mounting unit

11 storage unit

12 wheel

13 rotation axis

14 pockets

15 measuring device

16 sensors

17 transfer device

18 gripping head

19 actuating cylinder

20 slide

21 rails

22 rack

23 supports 24 transfer device

25 grippers

26 actuating cylinder

27 slide

28 rails

29 working surface

30 central vice

31 fixed jaw

32 movable jaw

33 actuator

34 movable elements

35 actuators

36 support plates

37 recess

38 presser

39 actuator

40 screwing device

51 input station

52 measuring station

53 output station

54 processing station x longitudinal direction y transverse direction z vertical direction