JP3326244B2 - Mold handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for vulcanizing an unvulcanized molded product such as a rubber belt material by inserting a cylindrical mold having the molded product on an outer peripheral surface into a vulcanization container. The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling a mold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A transmission rubber belt such as a V-belt is a wide tubular material (rubber belt material also called a slab).
The rubber belt material before being cut into pieces is formed into an unvulcanized molded product by wrapping rubber or cord (belt core) around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical mold. , It is vulcanized and manufactured.

[0003] Vulcanization is carried out by placing a mold containing a molded product in various vulcanization containers. In the most common conventional vulcanizing can method (not shown), a rubber sleeve or a flange member (end fitting) is attached so as to cover a cylindrical mold and a molded product on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The mold in the state is placed in a container called a vulcanization can, and high-temperature steam or the like is introduced into the vulcanization can and inside the mold to advance vulcanization. However, in the vulcanizing can method, the mounting of the rubber sleeve is troublesome, and there is a possibility that the molded product may come into contact with steam. For example, the vulcanizing container of the type shown in FIG. 4 has recently been used in many cases.

[0004] In a vulcanizing container C shown in FIG. 4 (the whole may be referred to as a gasket), a rubber sleeve Cb is previously mounted inside a cylindrical casing Ca, and between the casing Ca and the sleeve Cb. When pressure is applied, the sleeve Cb expands inward and the molded product X on the mold A
It comes in contact with. As shown in the figure, when the mold A and the molded product X are inserted inside and the high-temperature steam is sent into the mold A and the high-temperature and high-pressure steam is introduced into the sleeve Cb, the sleeve Cb comes into contact with the molded product X. Then, heat and pressure are transmitted, and vulcanization proceeds. The upper and lower ends of the sleeve Cb which are not in contact with the mold A and the like are prevented from excessively swelling to protect the sleeve Cb.
An attachment B, also called a flange, is mounted between the and the vulcanizing container C.

[0005] Such a vulcanizing container C is disclosed in
No. 3608, which has already been published.
According to Japanese Patent No. 12818, the method is also suitable for efficiently moving vulcanization and the like by sequentially moving the plurality of divided vulcanization steps together with the mold A in the vulcanization step. That is, the mold A etc. are sequentially moved together with the vulcanization container C to a plurality of vulcanization steps (not shown; see the above-mentioned publication) each having a heating (pressurized) fluid supply means. To increase production efficiency,
In addition, the vulcanization temperature and time can be easily controlled.

The operation of inserting and extracting the mold A into and out of the vulcanizing container C as shown in FIG. 4 and attaching and detaching the accessory B has conventionally been performed by a mold handling apparatus as shown in FIG. Since the boss Aa at the end of the mold A is usually formed to have the same size regardless of the size of the mold A (which varies according to the size of the molded product), this portion is held by the mold. The lifting block 50 including the means 60 is vertically moved by the air cylinder 51 or the like. Then, while the mold A is being lifted, the vulcanization container C and the like are moved sideways. The attachment B is integrally attached to the elevating part 70 by the air cylinder 52 using bolts and nuts. When the mold A is put into the vulcanization container C, the cylinder 52 is extended and the accessory B is mounted between the vulcanization container C and the mold A from above, and vulcanization is started in that state.

Conventionally, as the holding means 60 for holding the mold, the one shown in FIG. 6 or 7 is widely used. In FIG. 6, a plurality of levers 61 with claws 61a are opened and closed inward and outward as indicated by phantom lines by an air cylinder 62 to grip the boss Aa of the mold A. 7 inserts a pair of links 66 into a hole of a boss Aa of a mold A in a stretched state (see FIG. 7 (a)). The mold A is lifted (see FIG. 7B).

[0008]

The mold handling apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is not preferable in the following points since the attachment is attached by bolts and nuts.

A) When the size of the molded product changes and the mold and vulcanization container change, the bolts and nuts must be removed and the attached fittings must be replaced, so that the so-called setup change is troublesome. The setup change takes a considerable amount of time, during which operation such as vulcanization is stopped, which also reduces productivity, such as in the case of multi-product production.

[0010] b) Since an accessory is attached to the mold handling device, vulcanization must be performed at a certain position of the handling device. Then, for example, to move the vulcanization container for vulcanization, this handling device also has to move as a whole,
To implement the invention described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-212818, considerably large-scale peripheral equipment is required, which is not practical.

Further, the conventional mold holding means introduced in FIGS. 6 and 7 has the following disadvantages. In the holding means shown in FIG. 6, since the lever with the claw opens and closes inward and outward (inward and outward in the radial direction), it is necessary to increase the operating space of the claw around the periphery. When the diameter of the mold is reduced, the space between the boss portion and the accessory is particularly close (see FIG. 4. The mold and the like in FIG. 4 have a considerably large diameter), so that there is no space. Opening and closing may be difficult.

D) When the holding means shown in FIG. 7 is used, there is a possibility that the inner surface of the hole of the boss portion may be damaged. Since the inner surface of the boss serves as a reference surface for supporting and rotating the mold during molding or the like, if it is scratched, the processing accuracy in molding will be reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a preferable mold handling apparatus which solves the above problems.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mold handling apparatus, wherein a vulcanization container has a rubber casing inside a cylindrical casing.
A sleeve is attached, and a cylindrical mold is inserted or removed from the inside of the vulcanization container from above, and
The rubber rubber is mounted between the vulcanizing container and the mold from above.
A mold handling device for attaching and detaching the accessory bracket in contact with the upper end of the sleeve, while the movably arranged lifting block in the vertical direction, and the mold holding means for grasping the said mold, the accessory bracket shaft possess the accessory bracket holding means, which is the mold holding means, extending downwardly to releasably retaining
L-shaped plural protruding claws in one direction sideways from the lower part of
And a rotating part for rotating the shaft of each hanging tool.
Each claw is formed by a tool formed around the boss at the end of the mold.
It is characterized in that it is arranged at a position where it can engage with the bar .

[0015]

[0016] As claimed in claim 2, rotation of connecting the above rotation of the mold holding means, and a plurality of gears arranged to engage in order to interlock the respective axes of the above, one of those gear It is more preferable to use a driving source.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to providing an electromagnetic magnet capable of attracting the accessory as the accessory holding means, a plurality of L-shaped protrusions protruding in one lateral direction from the lower part of the shaft extending downward. It is also preferable to provide a hanging tool and a rotating part for rotating the shaft of each hanging tool, and to dispose each claw at a position where it can be engaged with the lower part of the attachment fitting attracted by the electromagnetic magnet.

[0018]

The most important feature of the mold handling apparatus of the present invention resides in that a releasable type is provided as a holding means for the accessory. If the accessory is held releasably in the same manner as the mold, unlike the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 5, firstly, there is no need for troublesome changeover due to a change in size or the like. The attachment holding means of this device
As it can be released at any time while holding the accessory that comes in place, even when resizing,
This is because it is not necessary to remove bolts and nuts by hand or the like as in the related art in order to replace the attachment.

Further, according to the present apparatus, there is no problem in moving the vulcanization container with the attached metal fittings together with the mold to a position away from the apparatus. It is convenient to carry out the vulcanization method described in (1). This is because the present apparatus can handle a mold or the like in the following manner, for example. As an example, a description will be given of a case in which a mold or the like with an unvulcanized molded product is handled so as to be inserted into a vulcanization container. Activate and hold the means and raise the lifting block again.

Next, the mold at the position of the device is
After lowering the lifting block, the mold holding means is activated and held, and the lifting block is raised again.

The vulcanization container is located directly below the lifting block that holds and raises the accessory fitting and the mold.

The elevating block is lowered again, the mold is inserted into the vulcanization container, and the attachment is mounted between the mold and the vulcanization container. After that, the mold and the attachment are released to the holding means. Then raise the lifting block.

As described above, the vulcanization container in which the mold (with the unvulcanized molded product) and the fittings are incorporated is independently moved from the present apparatus, and the vulcanization step in which appropriate heating fluid supply means and the like are arranged. Send to

In addition to the above, in the above-mentioned handling apparatus, the mold holding means has a plurality of L-shaped hanging members, and the claws at the lower portions of the hanging members are respectively hung on the flanges of the bosses of the mold. Hold the type. If the tip of the claw is directed sideways (that is, in the circumferential direction) with respect to the boss portion of the mold (having a dimension common to each size of the mold), it will not be caught when ascending or descending. If the nail is turned toward the center of the boss by rotating with the body (that is, the tip of the nail is put under the collar), the collar can be hooked when ascending and the mold can be held. Since such a holding means does not require the opening and closing movement as in the means of FIG. 6 and has a narrow operation range for holding and releasing the mold, a mold having a small space around the boss portion, such as a small diameter mold, is used. Also works effectively for.

Further, in the apparatus according to the second aspect , the structure of the rotating portion of the mold holding means is simple and the required cost is low. It is enough to provide only one rotation drive source, but even with one drive source, all shafts of the mold holding means are meshed with each other by a plurality of gears. Can rotate. That is, the rotational force of the rotary drive source is transmitted from one gear connected to the other plurality of gears to interlock the respective shaft bodies, whereby all of the above-mentioned claws are simultaneously applied to or separated from the mold. Or

The device according to the third aspect is characterized in that the structure of the attachment holding means is simple and the space required for operation is small. In general, the outer diameter of the accessory is common to each size, but the inner diameter is different.Also, it is not always easy to hold the disk because it is an annular disk containing a cylindrical part. If the suction is performed, the structure is simple but the holding is secure and the release is free. The apparatus also includes a hanger having a configuration similar to the mold holding means of the apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lower claw goes under the accessory and hangs on the accessory. This hanging tool ensures the holding of the accessory by the electromagnetic magnet, but also functions effectively when there is little space around the accessory, as with the hanging tool of the mold holding means described above.

[0027]

1 to 3 show a mold handling apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and its related parts. In FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a mold A handled by the apparatus 1, a flange B as an accessory thereof, and a vulcanizing container C. A mold A or the like shown in FIG. 4 is for molding a rubber belt material (a slab before being cut into a ring), and a molded product X is formed by winding around the outer peripheral surface of the mold A as shown in FIG. . At the end of the mold A, there is a boss Aa having a hole. The hole is used for centering during molding, and a collar Ab formed around the boss Aa is used for handling as described later. Used for retention. The vulcanizing container C has a rubber casing Cb attached to the inside of a cylindrical casing Ca. By injecting high-temperature steam between the casing Ca and the sleeve Cb to inflate the sleeve Cb, the vulcanizing container C has an outer shape on the molded product X. From heat and pressure. At the time of vulcanization, a flange B which comes into contact with the end of the sleeve Cb coming off the mold A is mounted between the mold A and the vulcanization container C as shown in the figure. In addition,
The flange B is attached to the upper and lower ends of the mold A, but the lower part is fixed so as not to come off from the bottom of the vulcanizing container C.

The handling apparatus 1 is constructed as a whole as shown in FIG. 1, and a main part including an elevating block 10, a mold holding means 20, and an accessory holding means 30, which will be described later, is incorporated in the frame 2. I have. In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a transfer table 7 of a vulcanized vulcanizing container C (for transferring the vulcanized container C after vulcanization) and a cooling transfer table 8 of a mold A (removed from the vulcanized container C). And the main part can be moved horizontally by the action of the motor 3, the pulley 4, and the wrapping belt (not shown). It is configured as follows. In other words, the main part is moved between the tables 7 and 8, and the mold A can be replaced between them.

A main part of the apparatus 1, that is, a part for holding the mold A or the like and extracting it from the vulcanizing container C (it is possible to insert the mold A in the opposite direction) is a mold holding means 2 for holding the mold A.
FIG. 2 shows an attachment holding means 30 having a flange 0 and a flange B, and an elevating block 10 provided so as to be moved up and down by an electric cylinder 11 integrally therewith.
It is as follows. First, the lifting block 10 is provided at the lower end of the telescopic shaft 11a of the electric cylinder 11, and the cylinder 1
It is arranged to move up and down by the operation of 1.

As the mold holding means 20, four L-shaped hanging members 21 each having a claw 21a at the lower end thereof which can be hooked on the collar Ab of the mold A are rotated with respect to the elevating block 10 via bearings. Install as possible. A small-diameter gear 22a is attached to the shaft of each hanging member 21, and a large-diameter gear 22b is meshed between them.
Only one of them is connected to a swing rotary type pneumatic motor (rotary actuator) 22c as a rotary drive source,
It is a rotating part. Since one pneumatic motor 22c is used, one electromagnetic switching valve for controlling the same is naturally used. In the thus-configured mold holding means 20,
By starting the pneumatic motor 22c and rotating the shaft of the hanging member 21 by a fixed angle, the four claws 21a are hooked on the collar Ab of the mold A or released from the collar A as shown in FIG. can do.

As the accessory holding means 30, first, FIG.
The electromagnetic magnets 31 are attached at two places downward from the lifting block 10 as described above. Since the outer diameter of the flange B (magnetic material) is constant irrespective of the size, the position of the electromagnetic magnet 31 is set immediately above the outer peripheral portion of the flange B (a position 180 ° apart in the circumferential direction of the flange B). In this example, the electromagnetic magnet 31 is mounted so as to be able to be displaced up and down via a spring 31a in order to cope with the deviation of the angle of the flange B and the like. The attracting force of the electromagnetic magnet 31 is sufficient to hold the flange B of each size, but in order to further avoid troubles such as a power failure,
The accessory holder 30 is also provided with a mechanical suspender 32. The hanging member 32 is an L-shaped member having a claw 32a attached to a lower part of a rotatable shaft body similarly to that of the mold holding means 20.
In this example, a swinging rotary type pneumatic motor 32b similar to the above is connected to each shaft of the four hanging members 32 (the four pneumatic motors 32b have only one electromagnetic member). Operate with a switching valve). When the shaft body is rotated by the pneumatic motor 32b and the tip of the claw 32a is inserted under the outer peripheral portion of the flange B as shown in FIG. 2, the flange B is held together with the action of the electromagnetic magnet 31. If the tip is turned sideways like a line, the flange B can be released when the power supply to the electromagnetic magnet 31 is cut off.

The mold handling apparatus 1 described above
As shown in FIG. 1, the mold A is pulled out (along with the flange B) from the vulcanizing container C sent by the vulcanized transfer table 7 as shown in FIG.
(After placing only the mold A, the flange B is placed on the original vulcanizing container C). That is, the vulcanizing container C in which the mold A (with the molded product X) and the flange B are assembled as shown in FIG.
When the device 1 is sent to a position below the device 1, the device 1 extends the electric cylinder 11 immediately above the
Is lowered.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pneumatic motor 22 c of the mold holding means 20 is driven so that the hanging tool 21 is hung on the collar Ab of the mold A. And the pneumatic motor 32b is driven to hang the hanging member 32 on the flange B.

The electric cylinder 11 is contracted, the lifting block 10 is raised, and the mold A and the flange B held above are raised.

The above-described main part including the lifting block 10 and the like is horizontally moved to the upper side of the transport table 8 by the motor 3 and the like along the frame 2 in FIG.

After the lifting block 10 is lowered, the mold A is lowered onto the table 8 by releasing the holding of the mold A by turning the hanging tool 21 of the mold holding means 20.

The elevating block 10 is raised, and the main part is horizontally moved again to just above the vulcanizing container C on the transport table 7.

After the lifting block 10 is lowered, the hanging member 32 of the attachment holder 30 is turned off from the lower part of the flange B, and the holding of the flange B is released by stopping the energization of the electromagnetic magnet 31.

The lifting block 10 is raised. Since the vulcanizing container C having the flange B returned at this time can be carried out at this time, it is moved by the table 7. The mold A
Is movable at the above time.

[0040]

The mold handling apparatus of the present invention has the following effects. That is, 1) Since the accessory is held releasably as well as the mold, there is no trouble in changing the size of the molded product and the like, and the productivity is not reduced.

2) Since there is no problem in moving the vulcanization container with the mold and the accessory attached thereto to a position away from the present apparatus, the vulcanization process is performed together with the mold and the like in a plurality of divided vulcanization steps. It is convenient to carry out the vulcanization method described in JP-A-4-212818, in which the vulcanization containers are sequentially moved and vulcanization is carried out efficiently in a flow operation.

3) Since the mold holding means holds the mold by movement of the L-shaped suspending tool with a narrow operating range, the mold with a small space around the boss portion such as a small-diameter size mold is held. It is also possible.

4) Since the hole in the boss portion is not damaged when the mold is held, the rotation accuracy of the mold at the time of molding is maintained well, and the quality of the molded product is favorable.

Further, in the apparatus according to the second aspect , 5) the structure of the rotating portion of the mold holding means is simple, so that the equipment cost is low and the maintenance is easy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, 6) the attachment holding means securely holds the attachment by a simple structure.

7) Since the operation space required for holding the accessory is small, the entire apparatus can be made compact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an entire mold handling apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view showing a part II in FIG. 1, that is, a main part of the apparatus 1.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a mold A handled by the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, a flange B as an accessory thereof, a vulcanizing container C, and the like.

FIG. 5 is an overall view showing a conventional mold handling apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a mold holding means in a conventional mold handling apparatus.

7 (a) and 7 (b) are front views functionally showing another mold holding means in the conventional mold handling apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Die handling apparatus 10 Elevating block 20 Die holding means 21 Hanging tool 30 Accessory holding means 31 Electromagnetic magnet 32 Hanging tool A Die Aa Boss part B Flange (Accessory fitting) C Vulcanizing container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B29C 33/30 B29C 33/02-33/04 B29C 35/02-35/04

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] (1) A vulcanization container is provided with a rubber inside a cylindrical casing.
A cylindrical mold is inserted or withdrawn from above inside the vulcanization container, and is mounted from above between the vulcanization container and the mold.
A mold handling device for attaching and detaching an accessory fitting in contact with an upper end portion of a rubber sleeve, the mold holding means for holding the mold in an elevating block movably arranged in a vertical direction, and the accessory fitting possess the accessory bracket holding means for releasably holding a said die holding means, from the bottom of the shaft extending downwardly sideways
A plurality of L-shaped suspenders with claws protruding in one direction,
With a rotating part that rotates the shaft of the hanging tool, each claw is
Can be engaged with a collar formed around the boss of the mold end
A mold handling apparatus, wherein the apparatus is disposed at a position . 2. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said rotating portion of said mold holding means is provided with said shaft.
Multiple gears meshed to link the body
And a rotary drive source connected to one of the gears.
The mold handling apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The accessory fitting holding means according to claim 1, wherein
Has an electromagnetic magnet that can absorb
L-shape with claws protruding from the lower part of the shaft body in one sideways direction
And a rotating part for rotating the shaft of each hanging tool.
E, each nail is attached with an electromagnetic magnet attached
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is arranged at a position where it can be engaged with a lower portion of the fitting.
Or the mold handling apparatus according to 2.