JP2011079240A - Tire manufacturing apparatus, tire manufacturing method, and tire - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and surely make the peripheral part of a tube and the inner circumference surface of a tread be joined over the whole region. <P>SOLUTION: A tire manufacturing apparatus for forming a tire 20 having the tube 21 which is formed from a thermoplastic material and engaged with the peripheral part of a rim 10 and the tread 22 joined to the peripheral part of the tube 21 includes an inside support 41 which supports the tube 21 with a positive gas pressure applied to its internal space A from its inner circumference part side, an outside support 42 which supports the tread 22 externally engaged with the tube 21 from its peripheral part side, and a heating means for joining the tube 21 and the tread 22 by heating a place between them. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tire manufacturing apparatus, a tire manufacturing method, and a tire.

In conventional tires, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, reinforcing materials such as bead cores and belt layers having organic fibers and steel cords are embedded in vulcanized rubber.
However, in this type of tire, not only is the structure complicated and it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost, but also the weight is increased, and for example, it is sometimes difficult to assemble and remove the rim.
Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the inventors of the present application have made extensive studies, and as a result, a tube body formed of a thermoplastic material and fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the rim, and an outer peripheral portion of the tube body. The inventors have come up with a tire having a joined tread.
In this tire, it is composed of a tread and a tube body, and the tube body is formed of a thermoplastic material, and a reinforcing material having an organic fiber, a steel cord or the like is not embedded therein, so that the structure is simplified. Thus, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the weight can be reduced.

JP-A-6-255305

  However, when manufacturing the tire, there is a problem that it is difficult to join the outer peripheral portion of the tube body and the inner peripheral surface of the tread over the entire region.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and a tire manufacturing apparatus and tire manufacturing capable of easily and surely joining the outer peripheral portion of the tube body and the inner peripheral surface of the tread over the entire region thereof. It is an object to provide a method and tire.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve such an object, a tire manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention includes a tube body formed of a thermoplastic material and fitted to the outer periphery of a rim, and the tube body. A tread joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tire, and a tire manufacturing apparatus for forming a tire, the inner support body supporting the tube body having a positive gas pressure applied to the inner space from the inner peripheral side thereof, And an outer support for supporting the tread fitted on the tube body from the outer peripheral side thereof, and heating means for heating the tube body and the tread to join them together.

  A tire manufacturing method according to the present invention is a tire that forms a tire including a tube body that is formed of a thermoplastic material and that is fitted to an outer peripheral portion of a rim, and a tread that is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body. And a positive gas pressure is applied to the inner space of the tube body, and the tire manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is used to support the tube body from the inner peripheral side by the inner support body, The tread fitted on the tube body is supported by the outer support from the outer peripheral side thereof, and the tube body and the tread are heated by the heating means to join them together. .

  The tire of the present invention is a tire including a tube body that is formed of a thermoplastic material and is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the rim, and a tread that is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body. It is formed by a tire manufacturing method.

According to the present invention, the outer support restricts the outer peripheral portion of the tube body having a positive gas pressure applied to the inner space from deforming toward the outer side in the tire radial direction, and the inner peripheral portion of the tube body It is possible to restrict the inner support from being deformed toward the inner side in the tire radial direction.
Accordingly, in combination with the increase in the internal pressure of the tube body during heating by the heating means, it becomes possible to bring the inner peripheral surface of the tread and the outer peripheral portion of the tube body into close contact with each other, for example air bubbles between them. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of an unjoined portion due to the interposition of the material, and to reliably join the two.
In addition, it is possible to reliably join the tube body and the tread without placing the tube body and the tread in an airtight space where the internal pressure can be maintained, thereby avoiding the complexity and increase in size of the manufacturing apparatus. can do.

  Here, the tire manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a side support portion that supports both side portions located between the inner support body and the tread from the outer side in the tire width direction on the outer surface of the tube body. Also good.

  In this case, since the side support portion is provided, as described above, the outer support and the inner support restrict deformation of the tube body in the tire radial direction, so that both side portions of the tube body are outside in the tire width direction. It is possible to prevent bulging and deformation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the plastic deformation of the tube body during the joining described above, and the tire can be formed with high accuracy.

  The inner support may also serve as the rim.

  In this case, since the inner support body also serves as the rim, it is possible to simultaneously mount the tire on the rim and manufacture the tire. Further, since the inner support body also serves as a rim, the tire manufacturing apparatus can be simplified, and the tire manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, the outer support may be formed so as to be split in the tire width direction.

  In this case, since the outer support is formed so as to be split in the tire width direction, the outer support can be easily mounted on the outer peripheral side of the tread.

  According to this invention, the outer peripheral part of a tube body and the inner peripheral surface of a tread can be joined easily and reliably over the whole region.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a tire / rim assembly shown as an embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the tire / rim assembly shown in FIG. 1 is assembled. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the tire / rim assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 cut along a tire width direction. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a state where a second divided rim is removed from the tire / rim assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In the tread joining process of the manufacturing method of the tire shown as one embodiment concerning the present invention, it is a perspective view showing the state where the temporary assembly was arranged inside one of the outside supports divided into two in the tire width direction. is there. It is a perspective view which shows the state which mounted | wore the outer side support body in the tread joining process of the manufacturing method of the tire shown as one Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a part of the state which cut | disconnected the structure which the temporary assembly shown in FIG. 6 was mounted | worn by the outer side support body along the tire width direction. The tread joining process of the manufacturing method of the tire shown as other embodiment which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The perspective view which shows a part of the state which cut | disconnected the structure formed by mounting a temporary assembly to an outer side support body along a tire width direction. FIG. The tread joining process of the manufacturing method of the tire shown as further another embodiment concerning the present invention shows a part of the state where the structure formed by mounting the temporary assembly on the outer support is cut along the tire width direction. It is a perspective view.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a tire / rim assembly having a tire according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The tire / rim assembly 1 includes a disc-shaped rim 10 and a tire 20 mounted on a support portion (outer peripheral portion) 12 described later of the rim 10. The rim 10 and the tire 20 are respectively tires. It is arranged coaxially with a common axis extending along the width direction H. Hereinafter, a direction perpendicular to the common axis is referred to as a tire radial direction, and a direction around the common axis is referred to as a tire circumferential direction.

The rim 10 includes a disc-shaped rim main body 11 and a support portion 12 that is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the rim main body 11 and supports a tube body 21 described later from the inner peripheral side thereof. The rim 10 is made of a material having a hardness higher than that of the tube body 21 and the tread 22 described later, such as synthetic resin, iron, stainless steel, or aluminum. Further, a plurality of mounting holes 13 for assembling the rim 10 to an axle (not shown) are formed at the center of the rim body 11 in the tire radial direction.
Here, both the surfaces facing the inner side in the tire width direction H in the support portion 12 and the bottom surface connecting these surfaces, that is, the longitudinal sectional view shape of the support surface 12a along the tire width direction H is the inner peripheral portion of the tube body 21. It is circular arc shape along the said longitudinal cross-sectional view shape. That is, both end portions of the support portion 12 in the tire width direction H are support protrusions 12b that extend in the tire radial direction and support the inner peripheral portion of the tube body 21 from both sides in the tire width direction H. In the illustrated example, the support protrusion 12b gradually extends toward the outer side in the tire width direction H from the inner side toward the outer side in the tire radial direction.

  In the present embodiment, the rim 10 can be divided into a disk-shaped first divided rim 14 and a ring-shaped second divided rim 15 at the center in the tire width direction H. The mounting hole 13 is formed at the center of the flat plate portion 17 extending along the tire radial direction in the disc-shaped first divided rim 14 and facing the tire width direction H, and is attached to the axle. On the other hand, a ring-shaped second divided rim 15 is detachable.

On the outer peripheral portion of the flat plate portion 17 in the first divided rim 14, a plurality of lightening portions 17a are formed at intervals in the tire circumferential direction. The lightening portion 17a is formed in a long rectangular shape in plan view along the tire circumferential direction, and penetrates the flat plate portion 17 in the tire width direction H.
Further, among the surfaces facing the inner side in the tire width direction H in the outer peripheral portion of the flat plate portion 17, the outer peripheral edge portions 17 b connected to the respective cutout portions 17 a from the outer side in the tire radial direction are adjacent to each other in the tire circumferential direction. The intermediate portion 17c located between the light-emitting portions 17a and between the outer peripheral edge portions 17b is greatly recessed outside the other portion in the tire width direction H.

  Further, in the illustrated example, a portion (hereinafter referred to as a first engagement convex portion) 18 excluding the outer peripheral edge of the central portion in the tire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral edge portion 17b of the flat plate portion 17 is an inner side in the tire width direction H. Protruding. Further, a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a second engagement convex portion) 19 excluding the outer peripheral edge of the intermediate portion 17c of the flat plate portion 17 also projects inward in the tire width direction H. In addition, each protrusion amount toward the inner side in the tire width direction H of the first engagement convex portion 18 and the second engagement convex portion 19 is directed toward the outer side in the tire width direction H of the outer peripheral edge portion 17b and the intermediate portion 17c. It is smaller than the amount of each depression.

A plurality of plate bodies 15a projecting inward in the tire radial direction are provided on the inner peripheral edge portion 15b of the ring-shaped second divided rim 15 at intervals in the tire circumferential direction. The inner peripheral edge portion 15b of the second divided rim 15 is formed in a flange shape that continuously extends over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction.
Here, the plate body 15a and the second engaging projections 19 of the first divided rim 14 are made to have the same shape and the same size, and their arrangement pitches are equal to each other. Insertion holes 16 are formed in the plate body 15a and the second engagement convex portion 19, and the second divided rim 15 is formed by screwing nuts to bolts (not shown) inserted into these insertion holes 16. It is fixed to the first divided rim 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a support hole 31 is formed in the center portion of the support surface 12a in the tire width direction H. The support hole 31 extends along the tire radial direction and opens into the thinned portion 17a. . A compressed gas injection pipe 30 for injecting compressed gas into the internal space A of the tube body 21 is disposed in the support hole 31. An inner end portion of the compressed gas injection pipe 30 in the tire radial direction protrudes into the thinned portion 17a.

The tire 20 includes a tube body 21 in which a positive gas pressure is applied to the internal space A, and a tread 22 formed in an endless belt shape. In addition, as gas with which the internal space A of the tube body 21 is filled, air, nitrogen gas, etc. are mentioned, for example.
The tube body 21 is detachably fitted to the support surface 12a of the rim 10 and the tread 22 in a state where the central portions in the tire width direction H of the rim 10, the tube body 21 and the tread 22 are made to coincide with each other. Are fitted and joined to the outer periphery of the tube body 21. Further, the tube body 21 has an inner peripheral portion of the rim 10 that is deformed toward the outer side in the tire radial direction of the outer peripheral portion by the positive gas pressure of the inner space A when the tread 22 suppresses the deformation. Is closely attached to the support surface 12a.

Here, the internal space A is an airtight space extending continuously over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction and having a circular shape in the longitudinal sectional view, and the tube body 21 is a hollow donut-shaped body. Yes.
Further, in the tube body 21, the inner peripheral portion supported by the support portion 12 of the rim 10 communicates with the internal space A and is disposed in the support hole 31 as shown in FIG. 3. A cylinder 32 is protruded. A compressed gas injection pipe 30 is fitted in the communication cylinder 32. By supplying compressed gas from the compressed gas injection pipe 30, the internal space A can be maintained at a positive pressure. In the illustrated example, the communication cylinder 32 is formed integrally with the tube body 21.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication cylinder 32 and the annular plate continuously extending over the entire circumference in the tire circumferential direction at the center in the tire width direction H in the inner circumferential portion of the tube body 21. 33 is protrudingly provided. In the illustrated example, the annular plate 33 is formed integrally with the tube body 21. The annular plate 33 is formed with a plurality of engagement holes 33a that open inward in the tire radial direction at intervals in the tire circumferential direction. Each of the engagement holes 33a has a rectangular shape that is long in the tire circumferential direction, and a portion of the second engagement convex portion 19 that is located on the outer side in the tire radial direction from the thinned portion 17a and the first engagement convex portion 18. It has the same shape and size.

  Then, when the tube body 21 is attached to the first divided rim 14, as shown in FIG. 4, in the engagement hole 33 a of the annular plate 33, from the lightening portion 17 a of the second engagement convex portion 19. Also, the portion located outside in the tire radial direction and the first engagement convex portion 18 are fitted and engaged separately. At this time, the annular plate 33 protrudes slightly inward in the tire width direction H from the first and second engaging protrusions 18 and 19. Thus, when the second divided rim 15 is mounted on the first divided rim 14, the annular plate 33 is moved in the tire width direction by the flat plate portion 17 of the first divided rim 14 and the inner peripheral edge portion 15 b of the second divided rim 15. Compressed by H and sandwiched.

  Here, in this embodiment, the center part of the tire width direction H in the outer peripheral part of the tube body 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape coaxial with the common shaft, as shown in FIGS. It becomes the flat surface 21c extended in parallel along. A ribbon body 21b is wound around the flat surface 21c from the outside in the tire radial direction.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both side portions 21 a of the tube body 21 in the tire width direction H are not covered with the support surface 12 a and the tread 22 of the rim 10 and are exposed to the outside. The circumferential length along the tire width direction H of the inner peripheral portion of the tube body 21 covered with the support surface 12a of the rim 10 and the tire width direction H of the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21 covered with the tread 22. The circumference is equal to each other. Further, in the tube body 21, the circumferential lengths along the tire radial direction of both side portions 21a exposed to the outside as described above are equal to each other.

  The tread 22 is made of natural rubber and / or vulcanized rubber obtained by vulcanizing a rubber composition. Inside the tread 22, a reinforcing layer 22a configured by arranging a plurality of steel cords or organic fibers is embedded over the entire circumference.

Further, in the present embodiment, the tube body 21 is formed of a thermoplastic material such as a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic resin. In consideration of elasticity at the time of traveling (riding comfort) and moldability at the time of manufacture, the tube body 21 is preferably formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.
Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer include amide-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPA), ester-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPC), olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO), styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPS), and urethane as defined in JIS K6418. Examples thereof include a thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), a crosslinked thermoplastic rubber (TPV), and other thermoplastic elastomers (TPZ).
Examples of the thermoplastic resin include urethane resin, olefin resin, vinyl chloride resin, and polyamide resin.
Further, the thickness of the tube body 21 is set to about 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, for example, and the gas pressure applied to the internal space A when mounted on the vehicle is set to about 50 kPa to 500 kPa, for example. Examples of the vehicle on which the vehicle is mounted include motorcycles in general and ordinary passenger cars having a total weight of less than 3 t.

If the tube body 21 is thinner than 0.5 mm, the pressure resistance and blade resistance may be insufficient. If it is thicker than 5.0 mm, the weight is increased or the tube body 21 is subjected to bending strain. When acting, there is a possibility that the difference in stress generated between the front surface side and the back surface side becomes large and the fatigue resistance deteriorates.
Further, when the gas pressure applied to the tube body 21 is lower than 50 kPa, the load supporting performance may be lowered, and when it is higher than 500 kPa, the riding comfort and the pressure resistance may be deteriorated.

Next, a method for manufacturing the tire 20 will be described.
The manufacturing method of the tire 20 includes a tube divided body forming step, a tube divided body temporary bonding step, a tread arranging step, a tube body bonding step, and a tread bonding step.

In the tube divided body forming step, a pair of tube divided bodies in a form in which the tube body 21 is divided at the center portion in the tire width direction H is formed.
In each of the pair of tube divided bodies, an annular thin plate having a shape in which the annular plate 33 is divided into two in the tire width direction H is provided on the inner peripheral portion constituting the inner peripheral portion of the tube body 21. . A halved communication tube 32 is also provided on each inner peripheral portion of the pair of tube segments.

  In the tube split body temporary joining step, first, in each of the pair of tube split bodies, the split end edges in the outer peripheral portion constituting the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21 are butted against each other. The ribbon body 21b is wound around. Next, the portion where the divided edge is located in the outer peripheral portion and the ribbon body 21b are heated with, for example, hot air or laser, or are vibrated by ultrasonic waves to generate frictional heat. The first pressurizing means sandwiches and pressurizes in the tire radial direction. Thereby, the ribbon body 21b is joined to the portion where the divided edge is located in the outer peripheral portion, and the divided edges in the outer peripheral portion are joined to each other.

  In the tread arrangement step, after retracting the first pressurizing means, the outer peripheral portions of the pair of tube divided bodies are pushed inward in the tire radial direction. Accordingly, the outer peripheral diameters of the pair of tube segments are reduced while the inner peripheral portions of the pair of tube segments are opened while the annular thin plates are moved away from each other in the tire width direction H. Then, in a state where the pair of tube divided bodies whose diameters are reduced and deformed are inserted into the cylindrical tread 22, the above-described pushing on the pair of tube divided bodies is released. As a result, the pair of tube divided bodies is restored and deformed, and the outer peripheral portion abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the tread 22, whereby the pair of tube divided bodies are easily fitted into the tread 22.

  In the tube body joining step, the annular thin plates in the inner peripheral portions of the pair of tube divided bodies are superposed on each other, for example, heated with hot air or a laser, or vibrated by ultrasonic waves to generate frictional heat. For example, a second pressurizing unit such as a roll sandwiches and pressurizes in the tire width direction H. As a result, the annular thin plates are joined together to form the tube body 21 in which the tread 22 is fitted to the outer peripheral portion.

In the tread joining step, the tread 22 is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21.
First, a tire manufacturing apparatus used in the tread joining process will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the tire manufacturing apparatus includes an inner support body 41 that supports a tube body 21 in which a positive gas pressure is applied to the inner space A from the inner peripheral side thereof, and the tube body. The outer support body 42 that supports the tread 22 fitted on the outer periphery 21 from the outer peripheral side, and heating means that heats the tube body 21 and the tread 22 to join them together.
The inner support body 41 also serves as the rim 10 described above in the illustrated example.
The heating means is a heating furnace.

The outer side support body 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the longitudinal sectional view shape along the tire width direction H of the inner peripheral surface thereof is an arc shape recessed toward the outer side in the tire radial direction. The outer support body 42 is made of a material having a hardness higher than that of the material forming the tube body 21 or the tread 22, for example, synthetic resin, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, or the like.
A flange portion 45 projects from the outer circumferential surface of the outer support 42 in the center in the tire width direction H toward the outer side in the tire radial direction over the entire circumference. A plurality of through holes 45a are formed in the flange portion 45 at intervals in the tire circumferential direction.
In the present embodiment, both side portions 21a located between the support portion 12 of the rim 10 and the tread 22 are provided on the outer surface of the tube body 21 at both ends of the outer support 42 in the tire width direction H, respectively. Side support portions 46 that are supported from the outside in the direction H protrude from the inside in the tire radial direction. Further, an abutting portion 47 that abuts the outer end portion in the tire radial direction of the support protrusion 12b of the support portion 12 is directed to the inner side in the tire radial direction at the inner end portion in the tire radial direction of the side support portion 46. Projecting.
The outer support 42 is formed so as to be divided into two equal parts in the tire width direction H, and is fixed by inserting a bolt (not shown) into the through hole 45a of the flange portion 45 and screwing a nut onto the bolt. It has become so.

Next, a tread joining process using the tire manufacturing apparatus configured as described above will be described.
First, the tube body 21 with the tread 22 fitted to the outer peripheral portion is attached to the rim (inner support body) 10 in the same manner as the tire / rim assembly 1 shown in FIGS. Form.
And after arrange | positioning this temporary assembly to one inner side of the outer side support body 42 divided | segmented into two equal parts as shown in FIG. 5, as FIG. 6 and FIG. The temporary assembly is overlapped with the one while allowing the temporary assembly to enter inside. Thereby, the outer support 42 covers the tread 22 fitted on the tube body 21 from the outer peripheral side, and the side support 46 covers the both side portions 21a of the tube body 21 from the outer side in the tire width direction H. . Further, at this time, the abutment portion 47 abuts on the outer end portion in the tire radial direction of the support protrusion 12 b of the support portion 12, so that the inner peripheral surface of the outer support 42 and the support surface 12 a side of the rim 10 are provided. A sealed space is defined by the inner surface of the side support portion 46.
Then, compressed gas is inject | poured into the internal space A of the tube body 21 from the compressed gas injection pipe 30, and positive gas pressure (for example, 100 kPa-2000 kPa) is given to the internal space A. At this time, the inner peripheral portion of the tube body 21 is in close contact with the support portion 12 of the rim 10, so that the tube body 21 is supported by the support portion 12 of the rim 10 from the inner peripheral portion side, and the outer peripheral portion of the tread 22 is By closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the outer support 42, the tread 22 is supported by the outer support 42 from the outer peripheral side. Further, at this time, the both side portions 21a of the tube body 21 are in close contact with the inner surface of the side support portion 46, whereby the both side portions 21a of the tube body 21 are supported from the outside in the tire width direction H by the side support portions 46. The
Then, the temporary assembly is placed in a heating furnace together with the outer support 42, the tube body 21 and the tread 22 are heated (for example, 70 ° C. to 200 ° C.), and the tires 20 are joined together. Form. In this embodiment, the tire / rim assembly 1 is obtained by removing the outer support 42 from the tire 20 thereafter.

Here, the tread 22 that is externally fitted to the pair of tube segments in the above-described tread arranging step may be a completely vulcanized state or a completely unvulcanized state. Alternatively, it may be in a semi-vulcanized state in which vulcanization has progressed halfway.
Moreover, it is preferable to arrange | position a joining member between the tread 22 and the tube body 21 in the tread arrangement | positioning process mentioned above. Note that this joining member is not necessarily arranged when the tread 22 is in an unvulcanized state.
Examples of the bonding member include an unvulcanized rubber band member for bonding, a vulcanized adhesive, an RFL (resorcin / formaldehyde / latex) adhesive, or a combination of two or more thereof. Of these, a vulcanized adhesive or an RFL adhesive is preferable from the viewpoint of joining with a thermoplastic material.
Examples of the vulcanized adhesive include a halogenated rubber-based vulcanized adhesive (Metaloc (registered trademark) R-46 manufactured by Toyo Chemical Laboratory Co., Ltd.), an isocyanate-based vulcanized adhesive, and the like.
Examples of the RFL adhesive latex include polybutadiene rubber latex, styrene / butadiene rubber latex, natural rubber latex, chloroprene rubber latex, acrylonitrile / butadiene rubber latex, and the like.

As described above, according to the tire manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21 in which a positive gas pressure is applied to the internal space A is deformed toward the outer side in the tire radial direction. It becomes possible to regulate by the inner side support body 41 that the inner periphery of the tube body 21 is deformed toward the inner side in the tire radial direction while being regulated by the support body 42.
Therefore, in combination with the increase in the internal pressure of the tube body 21 during heating in the heating furnace, it becomes possible to bring the inner peripheral surface of the tread 22 and the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21 into strong contact with each other. For example, bubbles are interposed between the two 21 and 22, so that an unjoined portion is suppressed, and the both 21 and 22 can be reliably joined.
In addition, since the tube body 21 and the tread 22 can be reliably bonded without placing the tube body 21 and the tread 22 in an airtight space capable of holding the internal pressure, the manufacturing apparatus is complicated. And an increase in size can be avoided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the side support portion 46 is provided on the outer support 42, the outer support 42 and the inner support 41 regulate the deformation of the tube body 21 in the tire radial direction as described above. Thus, it is possible to prevent the side portions 21a of the tube body 21 from bulging and deforming outward in the tire width direction H. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the plastic deformation of the tube body 21 during the above-described joining, and the tire 20 can be formed with high accuracy.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the inner support body 41 also serves as the rim 10, it is possible to simultaneously mount the tire 20 on the rim 10 and manufacture the tire 20. Furthermore, since the inner support body 41 also serves as the rim 10, the tire manufacturing apparatus can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the tire 20 can be reduced.
In addition, since the outer support 42 is formed so as to be equally divided into two in the tire width direction H, the outer support 42 can be easily mounted on the outer peripheral side of the tread 22.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, although the rim 10 is shown as the inner support body 41 in the embodiment, a configuration different from the rim 10 may be adopted.
In the above embodiment, a heating furnace is used as the heating means. Instead, for example, a heater embedded in at least one of the outer support 42 and the inner support 41 may be used. .
Further, in the tread joining step, the tube body 21 and the tread are decompressed in a state where the sealed space defined by the inner peripheral surface of the outer support 42, the support surface 12a of the rim 10 and the inner surface of the side support 46 is decompressed. 22 may be heated to join both 21 and 22 together. In this case, the generation of bubbles between the both 21 and 22 can be more reliably suppressed.
Further, although the side support portion 46 and the contact portion 47 are provided on the outer support body 42, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer support body 42 that does not have the side support portion 46 and the contact portion 47 is adopted. Alternatively, the side support part 46 and the contact part 47 may be provided on the inner support body, and the side support part may be a separate member from the outer support body 42 and the inner support body.
Further, as the outer support 42, a sheet body formed of, for example, Kepler or cotton, which is formed of a high rigidity, excellent heat resistance, and non-stretchable endless belt shape as shown in FIG. 9 may be employed. In the illustrated example, both ends of the seat body in the tire width direction H are fixed to the inner support body 41 by pins 48 at a plurality of locations in the tire circumferential direction.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the halved communication cylinder 32 was each provided in the inner peripheral part of a pair of tube division body, it replaces with this, for example, it is the inside of one tube division body among a pair of tube division bodies. The entire communication tube 32 may be provided in the peripheral portion.

  In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the constituent elements in the above-described embodiments with well-known constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described modified examples may be appropriately combined.

Next, a verification test related to the above-described effect will be described.
In the conventional example, the tire is formed without using the outer support 42, and in the example, the tire is formed in the same manner as described above using the outer support 42 shown in FIGS. Exactly the same for both examples. The gas pressure applied to the internal space A of the tube body 21 is 800 kPa, the set temperature in the heating furnace (atmospheric pressure) is 120 ° C., the heating time is 4 hours, and a vulcanized adhesive is used as the joining member. did.
As a result, in the conventional example, an unjoined portion where air bubbles intervene between the inner peripheral surface of the tread 22 and the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21 occupies most, and a tire that can withstand actual use cannot be obtained. On the other hand, in the example, it was confirmed that almost no unjoined portion was visible between the inner peripheral surface of the tread 22 and the outer peripheral portion of the tube body 21.

  The outer peripheral portion of the tube body and the inner peripheral surface of the tread can be easily and reliably joined over the entire region.

1 Tire / rim assembly 10 Rim 12 Support (outer)
20 Tire 21 Tube body 21a Both side portions 22 Tread 41 Inner support body 42 Outer support body 46 Side support part A Inner space H Tire width direction

Claims (6)

A tire manufacturing apparatus for forming a tire comprising a tube body formed of a thermoplastic material and fitted to an outer peripheral portion of a rim, and a tread joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body,
An inner support that supports a tube body, to which a positive gas pressure is applied to the inner space, from the inner peripheral side, an outer support that supports a tread fitted on the tube body from the outer peripheral side, and a tube And a heating means for heating the body and the tread to join them together. The tire manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,
An apparatus for manufacturing a tire, comprising a side support portion that supports both side portions located between the inner support body and the tread from the outer side in the tire width direction on the outer surface of the tube body. A tire manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The tire manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner support also serves as the rim. The tire manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The outer support body is formed so as to be splittable in the tire width direction. A tire manufacturing method for forming a tire comprising a tube body formed of a thermoplastic material and fitted to an outer peripheral portion of a rim, and a tread joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body,
While applying a positive gas pressure to the internal space of the tube body,
Using the tire manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In a state where the tube body is supported from the inner peripheral side by the inner support and the tread fitted on the tube body is supported by the outer support from the outer peripheral side, A method for manufacturing a tire, comprising heating a tread and joining the two together. A tire comprising a tube body formed of a thermoplastic material and fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the rim, and a tread joined to the outer peripheral portion of the tube body,
A tire formed by the tire manufacturing method according to claim 5.

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