JP2002046190A - Rubber-reinforcing element composite, apparatus and method for manufacturing the same, and pneumatic tire - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a belt reinforcing layer manufacturing apparatus or the like excellent in production efficiency even when the belt reinforcing layer of a tire is formed especially by spirally winding a narraw strip. SOLUTION: The belt reinforcing layer manufacturing apparatus is equipped with an inserter 1, which forms the guide holes 3a1, 3a2, 3a3, 3a4, 3a5 and 3a6, and 3b1, 3b2, 3b3, 3b4, 3b5 and 3b6 of two or more blocks 4a and 4b, when the aggregate of guide holes of which the number is same to the number of reinforcing elements arranged in the unit width of a rubber-reinforcing element composite is set to one block, and passes the reinforcing elements through the guide holes to arrange the same, and a die 2, which is attached to the outlet leading end of a rubber extruder on the reinforcing element passing side 5b of the inserter 1 and has slits 6a and 6b with widths W6a and W6b corresponding to the widths W4a and W4b of the blocks 4a and 4b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rubber-reinforced element composite, an apparatus and method for producing the same, and a pneumatic tire.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Rubber-reinforced element composites are used for producing conveyor belts and belt reinforcing layers for pneumatic tires.

[0003] For example, a conventional method of manufacturing a belt reinforcing layer of a pneumatic tire includes a method in which about 1000 to 1500 organic fiber cords are arranged in a width of about 150 cm and these organic fiber cords are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals. After preparing a woven fabric with a weft for holding, the fabric is immersed in a dipping solution for a certain time by a dipping machine for an adhesive treatment of an organic fiber cord, and then dried through a heat treatment step. Then, a thin rubber sheet is attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the dip anti-woven fabric to form a wide cord rubberized sheet, and this sheet is cut parallel to the cord so as to include a certain number of cords and narrowed. Each of the strips is wound up, and each of the strips is wound up. In general, a method of forming a belt reinforcing layer by spirally winding on a tape is used.

However, the above-mentioned conventional manufacturing method is
A step of cutting a wide cord rubberized sheet into narrow strips is required, and work up to the cutting step is performed in a wide state.
With a wide cord rubberized sheet, it is difficult to apply a uniform tension to all cords, so it is easy for cords to be disturbed, and when used as a belt reinforcement layer for tires, tire performance may deteriorate. Bring.

[0005] In the tire, the belt reinforcing layer is provided mainly for maintaining the circumferential tension of the tire. However, when the belt reinforcing layer is manufactured by the above-mentioned manufacturing method using the interwoven fabric, the belt reinforcing layer is provided. When an input in the tire width direction acts on the reinforcing layer, a loss is caused by the weft embedded together with the cord in the belt reinforcing layer, which may adversely affect the rolling resistance.

[0006] Therefore, it was necessary to develop a method capable of manufacturing a narrow strip with a predetermined width without cutting a wide cord rubberized sheet and without using a weft thread.

The inventor has conducted intensive studies to develop the above method, and found that it is useful to produce narrow strips using a bead extruder for producing strand beads.

That is, the bead extruder comprises an inserter having a guide hole for aligning the reinforcing elements as shown in FIG. 5, an inserter passing side of the inserter and an outlet of the rubber extruder. A die having a slit with a width dimension corresponding to the width of the narrow strip attached to the tip, and integrating a plurality of reinforcing elements that have passed through the guide holes of the inserter with rubber at slit positions of the die. By doing so, a narrow strip can be manufactured.

However, the inserter and the die of the extruder can produce only one narrow strip, and the production efficiency is not good.

In the case where the belt reinforcing layer is formed by spirally winding the narrow strip, the smaller the width of the narrow strip to be wound, the smaller the shift angle of the reinforcing element in the tire circumferential direction can be. There are advantages,
With the above extruder, which can produce only one narrow strip, the narrow strip having a length necessary to produce one tire is produced, and the narrow strip becomes the width of the belt reinforcing layer. Since a considerable amount of time is required for spirally winding, the deterioration of manufacturing efficiency is particularly remarkable.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber-reinforced element composite, an apparatus and a method for producing the same, and a pneumatic tire which solve all of the above problems.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an apparatus for producing a rubber-reinforced element composite according to the present invention comprises:
An apparatus for manufacturing a rubber-reinforcement element composite by rubber-coating at least one reinforcing element with a unit width, wherein a set of guide holes having the same number as the number of reinforcing elements disposed within a unit width of the composite. When one block is formed, an induction hole is formed divided into two or more blocks, and an inserter for aligning the reinforcing element by passing the guiding hole, and a reinforcing element passing side of the inserter, And a die attached to the outlet end of the rubber extruder and having a slit having a width dimension corresponding to the width of one or more blocks.

Preferably, the reinforcing element is an organic fiber cord. In addition, the number of die slits
It is preferable that the number of blocks is equal to the number of blocks of the inserter. In this case, the slit width of the die is
More preferably, the width of the block is 0.8 to 1.2 times and / or the width of one block of the inserter is 2 to 8 mm.

The method for producing a rubber-reinforcement element composite according to the present invention provides a method for producing a rubber-reinforcement element composite by coating one or more reinforcement elements with a unit width of rubber. When a set of guide holes of the same number as the number of the reinforcing elements is defined as one block,
After aligning the reinforcing elements by passing through the guide holes of the inserter formed with the guide holes divided into the above blocks, on the reinforcing element passing side of the inserter, and at the outlet end of the rubber extruder. The slit is passed through a slit having a width dimension corresponding to the width of one or more blocks provided on the attached die.

Further, a rubber-reinforcement element composite can be produced by the above-mentioned production method. In addition, a narrow rubber-reinforcement element composite strip is produced by the above-mentioned production method, and this strip is placed on a BT drum. By spirally winding the belt in the width direction, a pneumatic tire having a belt reinforcing layer in which reinforcing elements are arranged substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction can be manufactured.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, representative embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 1 (a) and (b) are views of an inserter and a die of an extruder constituting a manufacturing apparatus of a rubber-reinforced element composite represented by, for example, a belt reinforcing layer of a pneumatic tire, as viewed obliquely from above. Yes, 1 in the figure
Is an inserter, 2 is a die, 3 is a guide hole, 4 is a block, and 6 is a slit.

The manufacturing apparatus of the present invention has an inserter 1 and a die 2 shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). The inserter 1 includes guide holes 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ ,--, of the same number as the number of reinforcing elements, preferably organic fiber cords (not shown), disposed within a unit width of the rubber-reinforcing element composite. 3a _n , 3b ₁ , 3b ₂ ,--, 3b _n .

The guide holes 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ ,--, 3a _n , 3b ₁ , 3b ₂ ,-
-, 3b _n is 2 when their set is one block
The guide holes 3 are divided into the above blocks 4 (two blocks 4a, 4b in FIG. 1A) and six guide holes 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ , 3a ₃ , in each block 4a or 4b in FIG. 3a ₄ , 3a ₅ , 3a ₆ and 3b ₁ , 3b ₂ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₄ , 3
b ₅ , 3b ₆ ) are formed, and the reinforcing elements can be aligned in parallel at a position before being integrated with the rubber by passing through the guide holes 3 respectively.

The die 2 is mounted on the reinforcing element outlet side 5b of the inserter 1 and at the outlet end of a rubber extruder (not shown), and performs rubber coating with the unit width while moving the reinforcing element. _Therefore , slits 6 having widths W _6a and W _6b corresponding to widths W _4a and W _4b of one or more (two in FIG. 1B) blocks 4 a and 4 b formed in inserter 1 (FIG. 1)
(b) has two slits 6a and 6b).

It is preferable that the number of slits 6 of the die 2 is set to be equal to or less than the number of blocks 4 of the inserter 1.

When the number of slits 6 of the die 2 is set smaller than the number of blocks 4 of the inserter 1,
For example, in the case where separate guide holes are formed in two blocks 4a and 4b in the inserter 1 and one slit having a width corresponding to the width of the two blocks of the inserter 1 is formed in the die 2, the width is wide ( (About 2 times) narrow strips can be manufactured, but usually, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), it is more preferable that the number of the blocks 4 of the inserter 1 be equal to the number of the blocks. It is suitable.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show another embodiment in which the number of blocks 4 formed in the inserter 1 and the number of slits 6 formed in the die 2 are the same. 2 (a) and 2 (b) show an inserter 1 having four blocks 4a to 4d each having two guide holes as one block, and a width corresponding to the width of the four blocks 4a to 4d. FIG. 3A shows a die 2 having four slits 6a to 6d having dimensions. FIGS. 3A and 3B show four guide holes each having one guide hole.
It shows an inserter 1 in which two blocks 4a, 4b are formed as blocks, and a die 2 in which two slits 6a, 6b having a width corresponding to the width of the two blocks 4a, 4b are formed, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show an inserter 1 in which three blocks 4a to 4c are formed using five guide holes as one block, and three inserters having a width corresponding to the width of the three blocks 4a to 4c. 1 shows a die 2 in which slits 6a to 6c are formed.

When the number of slits 6 of the die 2 is the same as the number of blocks 4 of the inserter 1, the widths W _6a and W _6b of the slits 6 a and 6 b of the die 2 are equal to those of the inserter 1. each block 4a, the width W _4a of 4b, it is preferable that 0.8 to 1.2 times the W _4b.

In the present invention, when manufacturing a very narrow narrow rubber-reinforced element composite strip, specifically, the inserter 1 having a block of 2 to 8 mm in width is used.
When the above-mentioned strip is manufactured by using the method, a remarkable effect that a very narrow narrow-width rubber-reinforcement element composite can be manufactured in a large amount in a relatively short time can be obtained.

Next, the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described. First, in manufacturing a rubber-reinforcement element composite by rubber-coating one or more reinforcement elements with a unit width, the number of reinforcement elements disposed within the unit width of the composite is equal to the number of the reinforcement elements. When the set of the guide holes is defined as one block, the guide holes 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ , 3a ₃ , 3a ₄ , 3 are divided into two or more blocks 4a, 4b.
a _5, 3a ₆ and _{3b 1, 3b 2, 3b 3} , 3b 4, 3b 5, 3b 6 guide bore 3a ₁ of the formed inserter _{1, 3a 2, 3a 3, 3a} 4, 3a 5, 3a 6 and 3b ₁ , 3
After aligning the reinforcing elements by passing through b ₂ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₆ , at the reinforcing element passing side 5b of the inserter 1 and at the outlet end of the rubber extruder By passing through the slits 6a, 6b having a width corresponding to the width of one or more blocks provided on the die 2 attached to the die 2, the number (two or more) according to the number of slits 6a, 6b provided
And the rubber-reinforced element composite strip is manufactured at the same time, and the manufacturing method greatly improves the manufacturing efficiency.

Then, a plurality of narrow rubber-reinforced element composite strips are simultaneously manufactured by the above-mentioned manufacturing method,
Immediately or once at a time, the manufactured strips are wound simultaneously and then spirally wound in the width direction on the BT drum with a plurality of heads at the same time, so that the deviation angle with respect to the tire circumferential direction is reduced. In addition, it becomes possible to manufacture a pneumatic tire having a belt reinforcing layer formed in a short time, thereby effectively increasing the circumferential tension of the tire and improving the manufacturing efficiency.

The above is merely an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and various types of inserters and dies can be applied in the scope of claims according to tire performance, production, productivity, and the like. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the belt reinforcement layer of the tire, but may be any rubber-based material such as a conveyor belt.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a reinforcing element composite.

[0028]

EXAMPLES Next, a pneumatic tire was prototyped using the manufacturing method of the present invention, and its performance was evaluated. The tire size is 255 / 45ZR18, the carcass cord is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the belt is made of two layers of steel belts, and the belt reinforcing layer is a narrow strip of 6mm in diameter and 6mm in diameter. Was formed in a spiral manner so that the nylon 66 cord was substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction by the method described below.

<Method of Forming Belt Reinforcement Layer> Using an inserter 1 and a die 2 shown in FIG. 1, 12 nylon 66 cords which have been subjected to an adhesive treatment and a heat treatment are applied to two blocks 4a and 4b.
12 insertion holes 3a ₁ , 3a ₂ , 3a of inserter 1 located in
_{3, 3a 4, 3a 5,} 3a 6 and _{3b 1, 3b 2, 3b 3} , 3b 4, 3b 5, 3b 6 in through one dipped cord, the die 2 and the six code set slit 6a and 6b are inserted as they are, and while the cord is moved at a constant speed, the rubber heated during the passage through the die 2 is coated. By performing this two sets simultaneously, two narrow strips of 6 mm width including six organic fiber cords are generated at the same time, and the generated narrow strips are placed on a steel belt stuck on a BT drum. , So as to be substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction.
A belt reinforcing layer was formed by spirally winding the belt with a head. The belt reinforcing layer is a cap layer having a width of 230 mm disposed so as to cover almost the entire width of the steel belt.

For comparison, pneumatic tires having almost the same structure were manufactured by the conventional manufacturing method using the interwoven fabric, and various performances were similarly evaluated.

As a result, the invented tire did not suffer from the disorder of driving of the cord, and the tire performance was accordingly excellent. In addition, the manufacturing method of the present invention was excellent in workability because the cutting step could be omitted and there was no work in a wide state.

[0032]

According to the present invention, two or more rubber-reinforced element composite strips can be manufactured at the same time, so that the manufacturing efficiency is dramatically improved. In addition, if these strips are simultaneously wound around a belt, the working efficiency is improved.

In particular, when a belt having a belt reinforcing layer is formed by spirally winding a narrow strip in the tire width direction, there is an effect that the angle of deviation of the reinforcing element from the tire circumferential direction can be made small. If the narrow strips are wound simultaneously, the belt reinforcing layer can be manufactured in a short time.

Further, the production method of the present invention does not require the use of weft yarns as compared with the conventional method of producing from interwoven fabric, so that unnecessary loss and volume are not increased and rolling resistance is reduced. It can be wound around the belt immediately after rubber coating the reinforcing element, so it can be wound up once like a drip,
There is no need for cutting, and the productivity is increased. In addition, it is very difficult to apply the same tension to all the reinforcing elements to be coated with the rubber by the conventional manufacturing method. According to the method, since a small number of cords can be rubber-coated with the same tension, there is an effect that the driving disturbance is less likely to occur in the rubber-reinforced element composite strip.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows (a) and (b), respectively, a rubber according to the present invention;
It is a perspective view of the inserter and die | dye of the extruder which comprises the manufacturing apparatus of a reinforcement element composite.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing another embodiment of the present invention.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are perspective views of an inserter and a die of a conventional extruder.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ₁ Inserter 2 Die 3,3a _{1 to} 3a ₆ , 3b _{1 to} 3b ₆ Guide hole 4,4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Block 5a Entrance side of reinforcement element of inserter 5b Exit side of reinforcement element of inserter 6,6a, 6b, 6c, 6d slit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) // B29K 21:00 B29K 105: 08 105: 08 B29L 30:00 B29L 30:00 B29C 67/14 C

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for producing a rubber-reinforcement element composite by rubber-coating one or more reinforcement elements with a unit width, wherein the number of reinforcement elements disposed within the unit width of the composite is When a set of the same number of guide holes is taken as one block, an inserter is formed by dividing the guide holes into two or more blocks, and the reinforcing elements are aligned by passing through the guide holes; and a reinforcing element of the inserter. A die having a slit having a width dimension corresponding to the width of one or more blocks, the die being attached to the outlet end of a rubber extruder on the passage side and having a width. manufacturing device. 2. The apparatus for manufacturing a rubber-reinforced element composite according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element is an organic fiber cord. 3. The apparatus for producing a rubber-reinforced element composite according to claim 1, wherein the number of slits provided in the die is equal to the number of blocks of the inserter. 4. The slit width of the die is one of the inserters.
The apparatus for producing a rubber-reinforced element composite according to claim 3, wherein the width of the block is 0.8 to 1.2 times the width of the block. 5. The width of one block of the inserter is 2-8.
The apparatus for producing a rubber-reinforced element composite according to claim 4, wherein 6. In producing a rubber-reinforcement element composite by rubber-coating one or more reinforcement elements with a unit width, a reinforcement element disposed within a unit width of the composite is replaced with a reinforcement element. When a set of the same number of guide holes is taken as one block, the reinforcing elements are aligned by passing through the guide holes of the inserter divided into two or more blocks to form the guide holes, and then the inserter is formed. A rubber having a width corresponding to the width of one or more blocks provided on a die provided on a reinforcing element passing side and provided on a die attached to an outlet end of a rubber extruder;
A method for producing a reinforcing element composite. 7. A rubber-reinforced element composite produced by the method of claim 6. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a narrow rubber-reinforcement element composite strip is produced.
A pneumatic tire having a belt reinforcing layer in which reinforcing elements are arranged substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction by spirally winding the belt on a BT drum in the width direction thereof.