JP2002337148A - Tire manufacturing method and vulcanization system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a practical tire manufacturing method capable of successively and smoothly performing mold on-off operation at a constant cycle with respect to a plurality of vulcanization stations, in a vulcanization system equipped with a plurality of the vulcanization stations and a mold on-off station for opening and closing vulcanization molds capable of being taken out of the vulcanization stations, capable of effectively reducing an equipment cost, and capable of being adapted to small-lot production; and to provide the vulcanization system. SOLUTION: The vulcanization times of the tires different in size vulcanized in the respective vulcanization stations are integrated at every allotment to perform vulcanization. In order to enable this method, a plurality of vulcanization processes different in vulcanization time are prepared with respect to one kind of a size, and the vulcanization process of the shortest vulcanization time common to all of sizes is selected corresponding to a size alloting table to perform vulcanization.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a highly productive tire vulcanizing system having a small installation space, a low installation cost and a high productivity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In vulcanizing a tire, a vulcanizer 90 as shown in the front view of FIG. 16 has been widely used. Each vulcanization mold 92 of this vulcanizer 90
Actually makes the same movement on the left and right of the figure, but for simplicity,
The left half shows a state in which an unvulcanized tire 93 is put into a vulcanization mold 92, and the right half shows a state in which a vulcanized tire 94 is taken out from the vulcanization mold 92. In this vulcanizer 90, two vulcanizing molds 92 are arranged in a plane with the center axis of the tire being vertical, and can vulcanize two tires at a time.

The vulcanizer 90 has not only a function of vulcanization but also means 98 for opening and closing the mold 92 by vertically moving the upper platen 97 and the upper mold 92A with respect to the lower platen 96. , A shaping unit 95 for deforming the bladder 99 to fit the bladder to the inner surface of the unvulcanized tire 93 and removing the vulcanized tire 94 from the bladder, and a means (not shown) for supplying and removing the tire Is attached, so that it can be adapted to various production situations.

[0004]

By the way, when mass-producing tires, a large number of such vulcanizers 90 are conventionally installed, but according to this, all of the vulcanizing molds 92 are planar. In addition, the mold opening / closing means 98, the shaping unit 95, and the means for handling the tire, which have an extremely short operation time compared to the operation time of the vulcanizing mold 92, are also provided with the vulcanizer 90. Since the same number is attached, there is a problem that the space efficiency and the equipment cost efficiency are poor.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-48026 discloses a vulcanizer in which a plurality of dies are arranged in such a manner that the center axis of the tire is oriented horizontally, and four dies are provided. A tire vulcanizing apparatus has been proposed in which a single mold opening / closing apparatus is installed in response to the demand, and the installation space is reduced and the equipment cost is reduced.

As described above, in a vulcanization system which operates a plurality of molds independently by a single mold opening and closing device,
Although the operation rate of the mold opening and closing device can be increased, the problem is that when allocating the size of the tire to be vulcanized in each mold, all the sizes must have the vulcanization process with the same vulcanization time. There is. This means that all molds can only be assigned the same size, or at least a size having a vulcanization process with the same vulcanization time. This is because the vulcanization time of each tire varies, and when the mold opening / closing device is operated at a high operation rate, a state in which multiple tires complete vulcanization almost simultaneously occurs at some point. I do. At this time, since there is only one mold opening / closing device, a certain tire is left with the mold closed. Then, the vulcanization of this tire proceeds in a high-temperature mold, and the tire is inevitably over-vulcanized and becomes a defective tire. In order to avoid this, all the sizes are allocated so that they have the same vulcanization time, and the mold opening / closing device opens and closes the molds sequentially for each mold, and operates at a constant cycle. There is a need to. However, conventionally, a single vulcanizer does not produce a mixture of sizes. Rather, in this case, shortening the vulcanization time for each size is naturally more productive. The vulcanization times were set for each size and therefore varied.

This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
17 (a) and FIG. 17 (b) are machine charts in which time is plotted on the horizontal axis and dies are arranged on the vertical axis, and the operating state of each die is shown. In FIG. 17A, the vulcanization time of all eight mold tires is 8 minutes. When the vulcanization is completed, the mold opening / closing device moves to the mold, opens the mold, removes the vulcanized tire, and then inserts a raw tire and closes the mold. The mold then resumes vulcanization. Then, this cycle is repeated. The mold opening / closing device is for one mold.
The work can be completed in a maximum of one minute including the moving time. Thus, the vulcanization system operates with a total of 9 minutes of vulcanization cycle. The mold opening / closing device has a margin of one minute because it only needs to be operated for eight minutes in a vulcanization cycle of nine minutes.

In FIG. 17 (b), the vulcanization time of the tire vulcanized by the mold 6 is 9 minutes, which is 1 minute longer than other sizes.
It is a machine chart. As shown in the figure, the mold 6 and the mold 7 finish vulcanization at the same time, and the mold opening / closing device operates for two minutes.
This indicates that the mold 6 is left with the mold 6 closed, which may cause defective tires with excessive vulcanization.

As described above, in such a vulcanization system, it has been described that allocating the same vulcanization time size is an indispensable condition for operating the system, which is further exemplified below. Means a problem. For example, when a vulcanization time is different from other sizes and a tire of a very small production volume is produced by this vulcanization system, simultaneous production with a size having another vulcanization time different from the vulcanization time cannot be performed. Therefore, in order to fully operate the vulcanization system, it is necessary to prepare a large number of molds of this size and produce a large number of molds at the same time, despite the extremely small production lot. Conversely, if it is attempted to reduce the cost of the mold and produce only one mold, the operating rate of the mold opening / closing device will decrease, and the installation space for the mold will be idle, and the mold opening / closing device in the first place Not only does this not meet the goal of increasing the operating rate of the system, but also lowers efficiency in terms of space and installation costs.

In any case, since such production is inefficient, this system can be applied only to a tire size of a large production lot. It basically results in the basic problem that practical application is difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a practical tire manufacturing method and a vulcanizing system that can effectively reduce equipment costs and can be applied to small lot production. The purpose is to provide.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and its gist structure and operation will be described below. The method for producing a tire according to claim 1, wherein the vulcanizing mold for accommodating and vulcanizing the tire has a space in which the vulcanizing mold for accommodating and vulcanizing the tire can be put in and out while vulcanizing the tire. And a single mold opening / closing station having mold opening / closing means for opening / closing the vulcanizing molds taken out of these vulcanizing stations and allowing the tire to be taken in and out. A method of manufacturing a tire applied to a tire vulcanizing system, wherein at least one kind of size has a vulcanization process having a vulcanization process common to a vulcanization process of any other size, When allocating the size of the tire to be vulcanized at each vulcanization station, the size allocation after one of the size switches is composed of multiple sizes with the same vulcanization time. .

Here, allocating the size means
This means determining the size of tires to be vulcanized at each vulcanization station when making a production plan.

The vulcanization time refers to the time from closing the vulcanizing mold containing the unvulcanized tire to opening the vulcanizing mold.

In the vulcanization process, vulcanization conditions such as a vulcanization time, a vulcanization temperature, a pressure in a bladder and an applied mold are determined when a tire of a certain size is produced. Further, preparing the vulcanization process means that when a vulcanization command is received, vulcanization is immediately started in the vulcanization process.

Here, when determining the vulcanization process, one of the important conditions in terms of the quality of the tire is to give an appropriate degree of vulcanization to the tire. If the vulcanization is insufficient, sufficient strength and durability cannot be imparted to the tire, and too much vulcanization will deteriorate the rubber and reduce the durability. The degree of vulcanization depends on the vulcanization temperature and the vulcanization time, and the higher the vulcanization temperature and the longer the vulcanization time, the higher the degree of vulcanization. Conversely, there are countless combinations of vulcanization temperatures and vulcanization times that satisfy the appropriate degree of vulcanization.

Conventionally, the vulcanization process is determined by setting the shortest time corresponding to the maximum allowable temperature as the vulcanization time among the innumerable combinations of the vulcanization temperature and the vulcanization time. This is because the shorter the vulcanization time, the greater the production amount within a certain time, which is advantageous. In this case, since the appropriate degree of vulcanization generally differs for each size, the vulcanization time varies depending on the size. However, in the conventional vulcanizer shown in FIG. Because of the use of this mold, there was no need to lengthen the vulcanization time and use the same vulcanization time between different sizes.

However, as described above, in order to operate the vulcanization system having a high operation rate according to the first aspect, the sizes assigned to the respective vulcanization stations of the vulcanization system all have the same vulcanization time. Must. This is possible if all are assigned the same size, but this cannot be used for small lot production.
It is also difficult to put this into practical use as described above.

The tire manufacturing method according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a common vulcanization time for tires of different sizes, so that even if these sizes are mixed and allocated, the vulcanization time is reduced. Since they are the same, all the vulcanizing stations and the mold opening and closing devices can be operated at full capacity without any trouble. And since the vulcanization time is the same for all tires at all vulcanization stations, there is no possibility of producing tires that are excessively vulcanized.

Having a common vulcanization time for tires of different sizes means unifying the vulcanization time to the vulcanization time of a tire having a long vulcanization time. Is not originally considered because conventional vulcanization systems reduce productivity.

In practice, all the tire sizes targeted by the vulcanization system are grouped, and the vulcanization time is unified to the tire size having the longest vulcanization time in the group, and the size is allocated. It is preferable to assign and select from among the sizes belonging to the same group.
As another measure, it is conceivable to standardize the vulcanization time for all tire sizes targeted by the vulcanization system. This means that the vulcanization time is set to be the same as the vulcanization time of the longest vulcanization time, which is not preferable because productivity is greatly reduced.

The method for manufacturing a tire according to claim 2 is the method according to claim 1, wherein the tire has a vulcanization process having a vulcanization process having a common vulcanization time with any one of other sizes. In addition, a vulcanization process having a vulcanization time different from the common vulcanization time is prepared, and a vulcanization process having a common vulcanization time is performed for the size allocation including a plurality of sizes having a common vulcanization time. Of the processes, the vulcanization process with the shortest vulcanization time is selected.

This method of manufacturing a tire is not limited to having a common vulcanization time for tires of different sizes.
In order to further improve productivity, it has been devised as a result of intensive studies.For one size, multiple vulcanization processes with different vulcanization times are prepared, and it is possible to respond to sequential size allocation. Therefore, a vulcanization process having a shorter vulcanization time, that is, a vulcanization process with higher productivity is always selected and vulcanized, so that high productivity can be realized.

This will be described below by way of an example in order to make it easier to understand. There are three vulcanization stations and the target sizes are A, B and C. Here, a plurality of vulcanization processes are prepared for each size. A is a
Three processes of 1, a2, and a3 are prepared, and the vulcanization times are set to TS, TM, and TL, respectively, in ascending order. Also,
B prepares two vulcanization processes of TM and TL b1 and b2, respectively, and C prepares one vulcanization process of v1 of TL v1. In contrast to the conventional vulcanization method, only vulcanization processes of a1, b1, and c1 are prepared for each size, whereas in the present invention, a plurality of vulcanization processes are prepared in this way. It is.

Now, all three vulcanization stations have A
Is the shortest T
If the vulcanization is performed for the vulcanization time of S, the productivity becomes highest.

Subsequently, when the size A of one vulcanization station is switched to B and a mixed production of A and B is to be performed, the vulcanization method of the conventional single vulcanization process uses the size A
Since B and B have different vulcanization times of different TS and TM, vulcanization is completed simultaneously at some point and over-vulcanized tires are produced, so production of this combination is impossible. Met. However, in the method of the present invention, the vulcanization process of a2 and b1 may be performed in the vulcanization time of TM. Although the TL vulcanization times a3 and b2 can be performed, it is more advantageous to select the former with higher productivity to produce.

Next, at another vulcanization station, A
When the size is changed from C to C, three sizes A, B, and C are produced at the same time. In this case, too, the vulcanization time can be vulcanized by the vulcanization process of a3, b2, and c1. It does not lower the operation rate.

As a method of unifying another vulcanization time in comparison with the present invention, a method of preparing only the processes of a3, b2, and c1 of the vulcanization time TL is conceivable. Even in the case of size allocation of only A and B, it is obvious that a tire of size A must be produced in the vulcanization time TL, which greatly reduces productivity and is disadvantageous.

The vulcanizing system according to the third aspect has a space in which a vulcanizing mold for accommodating and vulcanizing a tire can be placed and removed while vulcanizing the tire, and functions independently of each other. A plurality of vulcanization stations are provided, and a vulcanization mold taken out of these vulcanization stations is opened and closed, and one mold opening / closing station having mold opening / closing means for allowing the tire to be taken in and out, A tire vulcanization system comprising a control device, a control device, a system control unit that controls the entire vulcanization system, and at least a vulcanization station that performs control to execute a vulcanization process of the tire. A corresponding vulcanization station control unit and a transmission unit for transmitting information from the system control unit to the vulcanization station are provided. When changing the vulcanization process, in addition to the vulcanization station that switches the size, the vulcanization process or the vulcanization process change is applied to other vulcanization stations that vulcanize tires with multiple vulcanization processes. It transmits information including commands.

According to this vulcanization system, since a single mold opening / closing station is provided for a plurality of vulcanization stations, the operation rate of this vulcanization system can be increased. Space efficiency can be increased.

Further, conventionally, the vulcanization station was controlled based on one vulcanization process corresponding to each size, but in the manufacturing method according to the second aspect, the vulcanization station is controlled for one size. Thus, a plurality of vulcanization processes are prepared, and the vulcanization process based on which the vulcanization station is controlled changes according to the sequential size assignment. In the vulcanization system according to the second aspect, the vulcanization process to be selected from the system control unit to the vulcanization station control unit corresponding to the vulcanization station that does not perform size switching each time in response to the size allocation, Or
A command for selecting which vulcanization process is to be transmitted, and the vulcanization station control unit can start control in the vulcanization process based on the vulcanization process. As a result, vulcanization with high operation rate and high productivity can be achieved.

A vulcanizing system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vulcanizing system according to the third aspect, wherein each of the vulcanizing stations is vertically arranged to constitute a multi-stage vulcanizer and the mold opening / closing station. With respect to each vulcanization station, a mold transfer means for taking a vulcanization mold in and out, and an elevating base portion which is vertically displaced between heights corresponding to the respective vulcanization stations. The mold transfer means and the mold opening / closing means are attached to a lifting base.

In this vulcanization system, each of the plurality of vulcanization stations is arranged in a vertical relative positional relationship,
Since a multi-stage vulcanizing machine is configured by these, a number of dies can be installed in a plane space for one die, and the installation space can be reduced. In addition, since the respective vulcanizing stations stacked in multiple stages vertically operate independently of each other, it is possible to put and remove the respective mold assemblies of the respective vulcanizing stations in a required order and timing, Therefore, a small-sized device for taking in and out the mold assembly is sufficient, which can contribute to space saving.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vulcanizing system according to the third aspect, each of the vulcanizing stations is arranged on an arc, and the mold opening and closing station is arranged at the center of the arc. A mobile vulcanizing unit comprising at least a vulcanizing mold is reciprocated from each vulcanizing station to a mold opening / closing station, and the vulcanizing unit is moved into and out of the mold opening / closing station. A vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive is provided at each vulcanizing station.

In this vulcanization system, each vulcanization station is arranged at an equal distance from the mold opening / closing station.
The moving distance of the mobile vulcanizing unit in the most distant section among the sections with the mold opening / closing station can be reduced, so that the vulcanizing cycle can be shortened and the productivity of the equipment can be improved.

Moreover, since the reciprocating drive of the vulcanizing unit is provided at each vulcanizing station, the operating load of the mold opening / closing station is reduced, and each device of the entire vulcanizing system can be operated without waiting time. This can also contribute to improving the operation rate of the vulcanization system.

[0037]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15 and Tables 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a vulcanization system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II ′. As shown in FIG. 1, in this vulcanization system, two multi-stage vulcanizers 10 are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to a mold opening / closing station 20 so as to face each other.

The configuration of the multi-stage vulcanizer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view of a multi-stage vulcanizer, and FIG. 3B is a front view thereof. Here, the vulcanizing stations 100 are arranged in four upper and lower stages to constitute one multi-stage vulcanizer 10, and FIG. 3 (b) shows a state in which all the vulcanizing stations 100 are being vulcanized. ing. Here, for each vulcanization station 100,
The mold assembly 1 including the mold, the tire, and the bladder can be taken in and out from the right side of the drawing.

Each of the lower platen 113 and the upper platen 114 disposed in each vulcanizing station 100 is provided with a flow path for flowing a heat medium therein, and these platens 113 and 114 are formed by a mold. It functions to abut the mold assembly 1 from above and below to clamp and heat the mold assembly 1. Also, in the vulcanization station 100,
A tightening cylinder 115 is provided as an example of a mold tightening means for pressing the upper platen 114 downward to tighten the mold assembly 1, thereby vulcanizing against the internal pressure of the bladder 3 during vulcanization of the tire. Tighten the mold 2.

Here, the mold assembly 1 applicable to the present invention.
Is shown in a sectional view in FIG. A tire 4 and a bladder 3 that is in contact with the inner surface of the tire 4 and that specifies the inner surface shape of the tire are housed in the cavity of the vulcanizing mold 2 composed of the lower mold 2A and the upper mold 2B. Note that the vulcanizing mold 2 here may be an upper and lower split mold or a split mold that is divided in the circumferential direction. However, the vulcanizing mold 2 is actuated by the action of an external force in the direction of lifting the upper mold 2B. It needs to be free. Further, the bladder 3 is provided with a heat medium receiving port 5 for receiving a heat medium for heating the tire in a hollow portion thereof.

In the mold assembly 1, the tire 4 and the bladder 3 housed in the cavity of the vulcanizing mold 2 are integrated as a tire with a bladder in the vulcanizing system of this embodiment. Handled. The vulcanized tire 9 with a bladder is shown in a sectional view and a front view in FIG. In FIG. 5, the bladder 3 is inscribed in the vulcanized tire 7, and specifies the inner surface shape of the tire. This figure shows the vulcanized tire 9 with a bladder, but the unvulcanized tire with a bladder also replaces the vulcanized tire 7 with an unvulcanized so-called raw tire in the place shown in FIG. Equivalent to something.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vulcanizing station 100 has a heat medium supply port 116 for supplying a heat medium to the bladder 3, a heat medium supply port 116 and a heat medium reception port of the bladder 3. 5, a joint means, for example, a joint cylinder 117, is provided for disconnecting the connections and closing the respective ports when the vulcanization is completed while the heating medium is fluidized. Although not shown, the vulcanizing mold 2 has a heating medium jacket for heating the mold by flowing a heat medium into a cavity inside the vulcanizing mold 2. The heating medium can be connected to and cut off from the vulcanizing mold 2 by using the same.

Next, the mold opening / closing station 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the mold opening / closing station 20 includes a lifting base portion 211 that moves up and down along the lifting guide 210, and is elastically attached to the lifting base portion 211, and the mold assembly 1 is attached to the vulcanization station 100. Telescopic arm 220 to be taken in and out, elevating base part 211
The upper die lift portion 212 is attached to the upper die lift portion 212 so as to be able to move up and down the upper die 2B of the vulcanizing die 2 so as to open and close the vulcanizing die 2. And upper mold fastening means 213 for fastening and releasing the upper mold 2B from the upper mold 2B.

The mold opening / closing station 20 shown in FIG.
The telescopic arm 220 is a bi-directional telescopic arm that can expand and contract in both the left and right directions. Therefore, one telescopic arm can be used to mold the vulcanizing stations 100 of the multi-stage vulcanizer 10 symmetrically arranged. The solid 1 can be taken in and out.

In this case, the two vulcanizing stations 10 are provided with respective vulcanizing stations 100 on opposite sides thereof.
The lifting and lowering guide 210 for the lifting and lowering base part 211 is attached to the supporting column 120 common to them, so that two multi-stage vulcanizers and one mold opening / closing station are integrated. Therefore, the space occupied by the device can be further reduced.

The operation of the multi-stage vulcanizer 10 and the mold opening / closing station 20 of the vulcanization system having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
(A) is a lifting base 2 of the mold opening / closing station 20.
11 is one vulcanization station 10 immediately before the end of vulcanization.
0 indicates a state of waiting at the corresponding height position. In the vulcanization station 100, the tightening cylinder 115 presses the mold assembly 1 from above via the upper platen 114, whereby the lower platen 1
13, the mold assembly 1 is tightened from above and below. At this time, the joint cylinder 117 pushes up the heat medium supply port 116 to the heat medium receiving port 5 of the bladder 3 to allow the heat medium to flow into the cavity of the bladder 3 and flow there.

FIG. 6B shows a state immediately after vulcanization is completed. Tightening cylinder 1 of vulcanization station 100
15 raises the upper platen 114, and the joint cylinder 117 pulls down the heating medium supply port 116 to disconnect the connection with the heating medium receiving port 5 of the bladder 3 and, together with this, both ports 5, 116 Bring closure. The mold opening / closing station 20 is provided with the telescopic arm 22.
0 and extend the arm 220 to the lower platen 11.
3 is inserted into the notch (not shown).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the lifting base portion 211 is slightly raised with respect to the lower platen,
The mold assembly 1 is received at the end of the telescopic arm 220, and the mold assembly 1 can be pulled out of the vulcanization station 100 without interference with the lower platen 113.

Thereafter, the telescopic arm 220 of the mold opening / closing station 20 is retracted with the mold assembly 1 mounted thereon, and the mold assembly 1 is moved to the mold position as shown in FIG. It is drawn into the mold opening and closing station 20.

Subsequently, the upper mold lift section 212 of the mold opening / closing station 20 is lowered, and the upper mold fastening means 213 is fastened to the upper mold 2B of the vulcanizing mold 2 as shown in FIG. Then, the lifting base 211 is lowered or raised to the take-out height H1 of the vulcanized tire. (Descent in this figure)

Further, the upper mold lift portion 212 to which the upper mold 2B is fastened is displaced upward to release the vulcanizing mold 2 and take out the vulcanized tire 9 as shown in FIG. 7 (c). State.

Thereafter, the vulcanized tire 9 with a bladder is
It is taken out of the vulcanizing mold by a transfer device (not shown).
By the way, FIG. 8A shows that after the vulcanized tire 9 is taken out from the mold opening / closing station 20, the next unvulcanized tire with bladder 8 is transferred to the open vulcanization mold 2. Indicates a state of waiting for

The telescopic arm 2 of the mold opening / closing station 20
Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the unvulcanized tire 8 is carried into the lower mold 2A placed on the lower mold 2 by a transfer device (not shown). Type 2
Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), after raising and lowering the elevating base portion 211 to the height position corresponding to the vulcanizing station 100, the upper die 2B is released from the upper die fastening means 213, and , Raise the upper die lift section 212,
The mold assembly 1 is brought into a state where it can be transferred to the vulcanization station 100.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the telescopic arm 220 on which the mold assembly 1 is mounted is extended, and the mold assembly 1 is advanced into the vulcanization station 100.

Then, by slightly lowering and lowering the elevating base portion 211, as shown in FIG.
The mold assembly 1 is placed on the lower platen 113 by lowering the upper surface of 20 from the upper surface of the lower platen 113. At this time, the notch (not shown) is provided in the lower platen 113, so that the telescopic arm 220 can descend without interfering with the lower platen 113.

Next, the telescopic arm 220 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
And vulcanization station 1
The upper platen 114 of 10 is lowered, and at the same time, the joint cylinder 117 enables the supply of the heat medium to the bladder 3 to start vulcanization again.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a second embodiment of the vulcanization system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, when the vulcanization station 100 moves in a merry-go-round manner and the vulcanization station 100 turns to the mold opening / closing station 20, the mold opening / closing station 20 opens the vulcanization mold and removes the tire. enable. After the vulcanized tire 7 is taken out and the unvulcanized tire 6 is loaded, the mold opening / closing station 20 closes the vulcanized mold.
Next, the vulcanization station 100 clamps the mold assembly,
Start vulcanization. Then, the vulcanization station 100 moves on the orbit of the merry-go-round and continues vulcanization.

A third embodiment of the vulcanizing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing the vulcanization system. In this vulcanization system, two mold opening / closing stations 312 are arranged, and centered on these mold opening / closing stations 12, a semicircle R on one side of a straight line L connecting the centers of these stations 312. In addition, four vulcanization stations 311 are arranged at a distance of 60 degrees from each other.

The tire vulcanizing system is provided with a total of eight mobile vulcanizing units 313 which reciprocate between each vulcanizing station 311 and the corresponding mold opening / closing station 312. In FIG.
Of the eight mobile vulcanizing units 313, only the mobile vulcanizing unit corresponding to the right vulcanizing station facing the left mold opening / closing station is displaced toward the mold opening / closing station.

Each mold opening / closing station 312
With respect to the straight line L, a vulcanized tire is taken out from the mold opening / closing station 312 on the opposite side of the region where the vulcanizing station 311 is arranged, or a tire transfer for putting an unvulcanized tire into the mold opening / closing station 312 is performed. A loading device 314 is provided. The mold opening / closing station 31
In 2, the tire is housed in a mold with its central axis vertical, and the tire transfer device 314 moves the tire to the mold opening / closing station 312 while keeping the tire in this posture.
Put in and out.

A PCI station 315 and a loading / unloading station 318 are provided within the operating range of the tire transfer device 314. In the case of a tire using a fiber cord having heat shrinkability, a post-vulcanization treatment (PCI treatment) in which a constant internal pressure is applied for a certain period of time immediately after vulcanization and the tire is left to suppress heat shrinkage after vulcanization. ), But
The PCI station 315 is a station provided with a device for performing this processing. Entry / Exit Station 3
18 is an unvulcanized tire table 316 for temporarily storing the unvulcanized tire and transferring it to the tire transfer device 314;
The vulcanized tire is provided with a vulcanized tire table 317 for receiving vulcanized tires from the tire transfer device 314 and temporarily storing the vulcanized tires, and these are arranged side by side.

The PCI station 315 can support four tires at the same time so that the four tires can be subjected to the PCI processing at the same time. Have been. In the unvulcanized tire mounting table 316 and the vulcanized tire mounting table 317, the tire is set in a posture in which the central axis is vertical.

The tire transfer device 314 needs to load and unload tires at different positions at the mold opening / closing station 312, the PCI station 315, the unvulcanized tire table 316, and the vulcanized tire table 317. In this embodiment, since the tire transfer device 314 is constituted by an articulated robot, these complicated operations can be realized by a simple mechanism.

The respective stations and devices constituting the tire vulcanizing system will be described in detail below. FIG. 12 is a side view showing the mobile vulcanizing unit 313. The mobile vulcanizing unit 313 includes the tire 4 and
It has a vulcanizing mold 330 for accommodating the bladder 3 for specifying the inner surface shape of the tire 4 in a cavity. Instead of this bladder, a hard core made of a rigid body may be used as the vulcanization core. Further, in the vulcanization system of this embodiment, the tire is always transferred integrally with the bladder, so that the description is easy to understand in the present specification. The one integrated with the bladder is also simply referred to as a tire, and is not distinguished from the case of a tire alone unless necessary.

The vulcanizing mold 330 includes an upper mold 331 and a lower mold 332, and these are combined to form the tire 4
Can be formed and the tires can be taken in and out by separating them from each other in the vertical direction. The lower mold 332 is circumferentially combined with a lower side plate corresponding to the side portion of the tire to form an annular shape and forms a plurality of radially movable segments that form the outer surface shape of the tread portion of the tire. Department. The upper mold 331 has an upper side plate forming a side portion of the tire.

Further, the mobile vulcanizing unit 313
An upper platen 361 and a lower platen 362 which abut on both ends of the vulcanizing mold 330 to form a heating platen portion.
And a heating medium supply hose 367 is connected to each of the platens 361 and 362, and a heating medium, for example,
Steam is supplied to a heating medium jacket provided inside these platens 361 and 362, and these platens 3
61, 362 can be heated. This heat is conducted to the abutting vulcanization mold 330 to vulcanize the tire.

Further, the mobile vulcanizing unit 313 includes:
An upper end plate 363 and a lower end plate 364 integrally holding the vulcanizing mold 330 and the respective platens 361 and 362 abutting on both end surfaces thereof are provided, and these end plates 363 and 364 are connected to each other. A plurality of tie rods 365 and a hydraulic jack 369 attached to the lower end plate 364 for pressing the vulcanizing mold 330 against the upper end plate 363 to tighten the vulcanizing mold 330. , The tie rod 365 and the hydraulic jack 369 cooperate to constitute a mold locking means for integrally tightening the vulcanizing mold 330 and the upper and lower platens 361 and 362.

Further, the lower end of the tie rod 365 is fixed to the lower end plate 364, and the upper end of the tie rod 365 is engaged with the upper end plate 363 via the tie plate 366. By swinging around the axis of the vulcanizing mold, the tie rod 65 and the upper end plate 363 are engaged with each other, and this engagement can be released.
The tie plate 366 is constituted.

The upper mold 331 and the upper platen 361
, Upper end plate 363 and tie plate 366
“Constitutes an elevating unit 372 that moves integrally when the upper end plate 363 is lifted.

Next, the vulcanization station 311 and the mold opening / closing station 312 will be described. FIG. 13 is a front view showing one mold opening / closing station 312 and one vulcanizing station 311 provided opposite to the mold opening / closing station 312 in the tire vulcanizing system of FIG. 11, and FIG. 1
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an arrow XIV-XIV of No. 3; FIG. 14 shows one mold opening / closing station 312 and all four vulcanization stations 311 arranged around the same.

Each vulcanization station 311 has a heat medium supply port 335 for supplying a heat medium, and connects the mobile vulcanization unit 313 to the vulcanization station 31.
A vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive 340 for reciprocating displacement between the mold opening / closing station 312 and the mold opening / closing station 312 is provided.

The vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive unit 340 includes:
The vulcanizing unit drive unit 351 includes a vulcanizing unit driving unit 351 and a vulcanizing unit supporting guide unit 341.
Includes a drive bar 355 fixed between two sprockets 352 and one link of a link chain 354 driven by a motor 353. The distal end of the drive bar 355 is connected to the rear end of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313 by a connecting means (not shown),
In the part opposite to the mold opening and closing station 312,
The mobile vulcanizing unit 313 can be reciprocated by driving the motor 353 to reciprocally displace the link chain 54.

The vulcanizing unit support guide 341 includes a plurality of rollers 342 and a roller mount 3 for supporting these rollers.
43, and these rollers 342 are arranged in two rows between the corresponding vulcanizing station 311 and the mold opening / closing station 312, parallel to a straight line connecting them. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313, two guide rails 371 are provided in parallel with the traveling direction.
By moving the guide rail 371 along the corresponding row of rollers 342 along the row, the mobile vulcanizing unit 313 can be reciprocated with respect to the mold opening / closing station.

As described above, the vulcanizing unit support guide 351 of the vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive device 340 is constituted by the short-axis roller 342 laid in the moving section of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313, as shown in FIG. As shown,
An extremely simple and low-cost tire vulcanizing system can be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the vulcanizing unit support guides 351 are also provided near the mold opening / closing station 342 where the vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive units 340 provided in the respective vulcanizing stations 311 intersect. Alternatively, the vulcanization unit support guide 351 and other mobile vulcanization units 313 can be provided without interference.

When the mobile vulcanizing unit 313 is moved, the heating medium supply hose 367 for supplying the heating medium from the heating medium supply port 335 is cut off from the upper and lower platens 361 and 362 of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313. The vulcanization can be continued even during the movement of the mobile vulcanization unit 313, and by maximizing the movement time as a part of the vulcanization time, the cycle can be reduced accordingly. The time can be shortened, the equipment cost can be reduced, and the risk of leakage of the heat medium from the connection portion can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 13, the mold opening / closing station 312 has, at the center thereof, a mold opening / closing means 321 for elevating and lowering the elevating unit 372 of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313 that has moved. This mold opening / closing means 321 includes:
Base 3 fixed via pillars built from floor surface
22 and an upper / lower unit 3 guided by a guide 323 attached to the base and moved up and down by a driving device (not shown).
24. The upper and lower units 324 rotate the tie plate 366 of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313 to connect or disconnect the upper end plate 363 and the tie rods 365, and hold the upper end plate 363 or hold the upper end plate 363. And a lifting / lowering unit lock gripping mechanism 325 for releasing the lock.

Next, a series of operations in this tire vulcanizing system from receiving an unvulcanized tire 7 from a previous process, vulcanizing the same, and discharging the vulcanized tire 7 to a subsequent process will be described. Unvulcanized tire 4 transported from the previous process
Is mounted on the unvulcanized tire table 316. On the other hand, the tire transfer device 314
After transferring the vulcanized tire 4 from the vulcanizing mold 330 opened up and down to the PCI station 315, the unvulcanized tire 4 placed on the unvulcanized tire table 316 is picked up,
The vulcanizing mold 330 is set at the mold opening / closing station 312 and is set in the opened vulcanizing mold 330.

After retracting the tire transfer device 314, the mold opening / closing means 321 is displaced to lower the elevating unit 372 of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313. To lock the elevating unit 372 with the other parts of the mobile vulcanizing unit 313.

Thereafter, the mobile vulcanizing unit 313
Is moved to the vulcanizing station 311 by the vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive device 340, and the unvulcanized tire 4 stored therein is vulcanized at the vulcanizing station 311. When the vulcanization is completed, the mobile vulcanization unit 313 is moved to the mold opening / closing station 312 by the vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive device 340, and then the mold opening / closing station 31 is moved.
The vulcanizing mold 330 is opened by the second mold opening / closing means 321 so that the vulcanized tire 4 can be taken out.

The vulcanized tire 4 is transferred from the mold opening / closing station to the PCI station 315 by the tire transfer device 314, and after the PCI processing is completed, the vulcanized tire 4 is transferred again. With the device 314,
It is taken out of the PCI station 315 and placed on the vulcanized tire table 317. Thereafter, the tire 4 is transported to the next step.

In the tire vulcanizing system according to the third embodiment, a material such as nylon having a high heat shrinkage is used as a cord constituting the tire to be vulcanized.
Although a PCI station for performing CI processing is provided, the PCI station can be omitted in the case of a vulcanizing system for vulcanizing a tire made of a cord made of a material having a small heat shrinkage.

The tire manufacturing method according to the present invention and the embodiment of the control device of the vulcanizing system will be described with reference to FIG. 15 and Tables 1 to 3. The method for manufacturing a tire and the control device for the vulcanization system include the aforementioned vulcanization station, and a common mold opening / closing station that opens and closes a vulcanization mold for these vulcanization stations. It can be suitably used for all vulcanization systems including the first to third embodiments.

[0084]

[Table 1]

[0085]

[Table 2]

[0086]

[Table 3]

Table 1 shows that in the tire manufacturing method applied to the vulcanization systems of the first and second embodiments, some of the sizes produced by this vulcanization system are used in the vulcanization process of those sizes. The list is a table for each vulcanization time. For example, as a vulcanization process corresponding to size B, a process b1 having a vulcanization time of 11 minutes, a process b2 having a vulcanization time of 12 minutes, a process b3 having a vulcanization time of 13 minutes, and a vulcanization time of 14 minutes Are prepared.

Table 2 shows an example of the size assignment. It shows how sizes are assigned to eight vulcanization stations from vulcanization station 1 to vulcanization station 8. First, the size B is allocated to six units from the vulcanizing station 1 to the vulcanizing station 6, and the size A is allocated to two units, the vulcanizing station 7 and the vulcanizing station 8. This is allocation 1. Next, allocation 2 switches the size of the vulcanizing station 8 from A to C. Similarly, each time the size is changed at any of the vulcanization stations, a new assignment is made. And although the assignment in the middle is omitted, the assignment 80 vulcanizes the size A in all the vulcanization stations. As described above, sizes having a common vulcanization time can be allocated in combination, but sizes A and D do not have a common vulcanization time and cannot be allocated at the same time.

At this time, Table 3 shows which process is selected for each of the sizes A to D allocated in each allocation. As can be seen, the same vulcanization time process can be sequentially selected as short as possible by the size combination of the same size,
Productivity can be increased.

As described above, by preparing a plurality of vulcanization processes having different vulcanization times for at least one size of the size allocation, the allocation is created so as to have a vulcanization time common to all sizes of the size allocation. can do. Further, the shortest vulcanization time can be selected depending on the size combination.

The control device 80 for executing this method is shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram. The system control unit 81 holds information on target sizes of the vulcanization system and information on all vulcanization processes corresponding to those sizes,
It also holds size allocation information. That is, the information of Table 1 and Table 2 is retained. This size allocation is updated in accordance with the update of the production plan, and this information is input through a path (not shown).

When a size change occurs in any of the vulcanization stations, the system control unit 81 determines a vulcanization process to be selected for the next size allocation, and makes the selected vulcanization process correspond to each other. The data is transmitted to the vulcanization station control unit 82. This is because, for example, in Table 3, when a change from size A to C occurs at the vulcanization station 8, the corresponding vulcanization process is performed for the vulcanization station 2 that has not performed the size change as the vulcanization process of the allocation 2. The b2 is transmitted to the sulfurizing station control unit 82. Vulcanization station control unit 8 corresponding to other vulcanization stations
2, the corresponding vulcanization process in Table 3 is also transmitted. Then, based on the newly transmitted vulcanization process, vulcanization for the next size assignment is performed.

As described above, conventionally, the vulcanization process was not changed except for the vulcanization station where the size change occurred. However, in the vulcanization method of the present invention, even if the vulcanization station did not change the size, the vulcanization process was not performed. , For each size assignment table,
The vulcanization process needs to be updated, and the control device of the present invention is essential.

In this example, the vulcanization process itself is transmitted. Instead, at least a vulcanization process having a size corresponding to the vulcanization station control unit is provided in advance, and which vulcanization process is selected for each size allocation. Alternatively, only the instruction to select whether to perform the transmission may be transmitted.

[0095]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, in a vulcanization system including a plurality of vulcanization stations and a mold opening / closing station for opening and closing a vulcanization mold taken out of these vulcanization stations, vulcanization is performed at each vulcanization station. Since the vulcanization time for tires of different sizes is unified for each assignment, the opening and closing operations of the mold for each vulcanization station can be performed sequentially and in a constant cycle without any delay. So, without waiting time,
Accordingly, it is possible to provide a practical tire manufacturing method and a vulcanization system that can effectively reduce equipment costs and can be applied to small-lot production.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a vulcanization system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrows in FIG. 1 and II-II '.

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a front view showing details of a multi-stage vulcanizer.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a mold assembly.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vulcanized tire with a bladder.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view of a mold opening / closing station.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of the mold opening / closing station following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view of the mold opening / closing station following FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the mold opening / closing station following FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a second embodiment of the vulcanization system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a third embodiment of the vulcanization system according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a mobile vulcanizing unit.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing a vulcanizing station and a mold opening / closing station.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a vulcanizing station and a mold opening / closing station.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a control device.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a conventional vulcanization system.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a vulcanization cycle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mold assembly 2 vulcanizing mold 2A lower mold 2B upper mold 3 bladder 4 tire 5 heat medium receiving port 6 unvulcanized tire 7 vulcanized tire 8 unvulcanized bladder tire 9 with vulcanized bladder Tire 10 Multi-stage vulcanizer 20 Mold opening / closing station 80 Control device 81 System control unit 82 Vulcanizing station control unit 83 Mold opening / closing station control unit 85 Transmission unit 90 Vulcanizer 92 Vulcanizing mold 92A Lower mold 92B Upper mold 93 Unvulcanized tire 94 Vulcanized tire 95 Shaping unit 96 Lower platen 97 Upper platen 99 Bladder 100 Vulcanization station 111 Vulcanization station lower base 112 Vulcanization station upper base 113 Lower platen 114 Upper platen 115 Tightening cylinder 116 Heat medium Supply port 117 Joint cylinder 1 0 common support 210 guide 211 elevating base part 212 upper die lift part 213 upper die fastening means 220 telescopic arm 311 vulcanization station 312 mold opening and closing station 313 mobile vulcanization unit 314 tire transfer device 315 PCI station 316 unvulcanized tire table 317 Vulcanized tire table 318 Entry / exit station 319 Mold exchange space 321 Mold opening / closing means 322 Base unit 323 Guide 324 Vertical unit 325 Elevating unit lock lock mechanism 330 Vulcanized mold 331 Upper mold 332 Lower mold 335 Heat Medium supply port 340 Vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive unit 341 Vulcanizing unit support guide unit 342 Roller 343 Roller mount 351 Vulcanizing unit drive unit 352 Sprocket 353 Motor 354 Link chain 355 drive bar 361 upper platen 362 lower platen 363 upper endplate 364 lower end plate 365 tie rod 366 tie 367 heat medium supply hose 369 hydraulic jacks 371 guide rails H1 height

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vulcanizing station which has a space for accommodating a vulcanizing mold for accommodating and vulcanizing a tire during vulcanization of the tire, and which functions independently of each other. The present invention is applied to a tire vulcanizing system including one mold opening / closing station having mold opening / closing means for opening / closing a vulcanizing mold taken out of these vulcanizing stations and allowing a tire to be taken in and out. A tire manufacturing method, wherein at least one size has a vulcanization process having a vulcanization process common to a vulcanization process of any other size, and vulcanization at each vulcanization station. A method of manufacturing a tire, wherein when allocating the size of a tire to be vulcanized, the size allocation after any of the size switches is made up of a plurality of sizes having a common vulcanization time. 2. A vulcanization process having a vulcanization time different from the common vulcanization time for a vulcanization process having a vulcanization process having a vulcanization process having a common vulcanization time with a vulcanization process having any other size. 2. The vulcanizing process having the shortest vulcanizing time among the vulcanizing processes having a common vulcanizing time is selected for the size allocation comprising a plurality of sizes having a common vulcanizing time. 3. The method for producing a tire according to item 1. 3. A vulcanizing station having a space for accommodating a vulcanizing mold for accommodating and vulcanizing the tire during vulcanization of the tire, wherein the vulcanizing station functions independently of each other. A vulcanization mold taken out of these vulcanization stations, a vulcanization mold having a mold opening / closing station having mold opening / closing means for opening and closing the tire, and a control device. A vulcanization system, a control device, a system control unit that controls the entire vulcanization system, and a vulcanization station control unit corresponding to each vulcanization station that controls at least the vulcanization process of the tire, And a transmission unit for transmitting information from the system control unit to the vulcanization station. In addition to the vulcanizing station, vulcanizing tires with multiple vulcanization processes, and other vulcanization stations also transmit information including instructions for vulcanization process or vulcanization process change. Vulcanizing system. 4. A vulcanizing station is arranged up and down to constitute a multi-stage vulcanizing machine, and the mold opening / closing station is moved in and out of each vulcanizing station. A mold transfer means, and a lifting base portion which is displaced up and down between heights corresponding to the respective vulcanizing stations, wherein the mold transfer means and the mold opening / closing means are connected to the lifting base portion. The vulcanization system according to claim 3, wherein the vulcanization system is mounted on a vulcanization system. 5. A vulcanizing station is disposed on an arc, and the mold opening / closing station is arranged at the center of the arc, and is reciprocally displaced from each vulcanizing station to a mold opening / closing station. A mobile vulcanizing unit comprising a vulcanizing mold is provided, and a vulcanizing unit reciprocating drive for moving the mobile vulcanizing unit into and out of the mold opening / closing station is provided at each vulcanizing station. 3. The vulcanization system according to 3.